School renovation work on agenda
LAFAYETTE — The School Board plans to review at its Wednesday meeting a list of proposed renovations, expansions and repairs requested for six schools that will cost more than $30 million.
The six schools are Green T. Lindon Elementary, Youngsville Middle, Lafayette High, Northside High, L.J. Alleman Middle and Thibodaux Tech Magnet STEM Academy.
The proposed list of renovations includes the expansion of Green T. Lindon Elementary School and Youngsville Middle School, which would create room for up to 1,000 students on the campuses, Superintendent Pat Cooper said Monday.
The Lindon project could be the first to move forward.
The board plans to also consider at its Wednesday meeting a recommendation that the architectural firm Pécot & Company be approved for the project.
During a meeting in July, architect Kirby Pécot gave the board a presentation on how his company could expand the Lindon campus onto adjacent property a local developer is willing to donate to the school system. Construction would not interfere with existing classrooms, so it could begin while school is in session, Pécot said.
About 800 students attend the elementary school and nearly half of the student population is in portable buildings, Cooper said.
“In terms of growth, it’s the most important,” Cooper said. “We’ve got a lot of kids down there and we’re going to need this open.”
The recommended list of projects and the architect confirmation are on the agenda as introduction items, but the board could vote to move the issues to action on Wednesday.
By next month, recommendations for architects for the other projects will be presented to the board, Cooper said.
A total of $33 million is available for school facility projects — the district’s capital projects budget has about $3 million available, and the board received approval from the Louisiana State Bond Commission last month to sell up to $30 million in bonds.
The proposed projects include:
NORTHSIDE HIGH: $2.6 million for elevator; air conditioning and locker room renovations for boys’ and girls’ gyms; window replacement in all buildings; renovation of chemistry and science labs; and stadium privacy fence.
THIBODAUX TECH MAGNET STEM ACADEMY: $9 million for building additions and renovations; design fees; and technology additions.
G.T. LINDON ELEMENTARY: $9 million for classroom addition; additions to cafeteria and administrative offices; and design fees.
YOUNGSVILLE MIDDLE: $4.7 million for classroom addition and design fees.
L.J. ALLEMAN MIDDLE: $3 million for gymnasium air conditioning, locker room renovations, new cafeteria and parent/faculty work/meeting space; renovation of existing cafeteria to create a mini-auditorium; and computer labs.
LAFAYETTE HIGH: $2 million for renovations of restrooms; drain repairs and renovations for the auditorium; new air conditioning system for band and chorus rooms and addition to band/chorus equipment and uniform storage; restroom and locker room renovations for boys’ and girls’ gyms.