WBR looks at expanding school
PORT ALLEN — The West Baton Rouge Parish School Board gave Superintendent David Corona permission Wednesday to seek architects’ proposals for a possible expansion at Brusly Elementary School.
In a related development, Corona told the board he also plans to ask architects to draw a “footprint” for a new high school adjacent to Brusly High School.
The board is in the process of deciding whether to add up to 14 new classrooms, additional storage and new restrooms to the school, which was built in 1993.
During committee meetings last week, board members said the school, which now has about 700 students, has been struggling with overcrowding issues for quite some time.
Corona said between 500 to 600 students are enrolled at Brusly High School. The “footprint” drawings would sketch out a facility that could hold about 1,000 students, he said.
Board President Jason Manola stressed that the district has no immediate plans to build a new high school.
“We’re just preparing for future growth,” Manola said prior to Wednesday’s unanimous vote.
The superintendent said he would base his recommendation to the board on several factors, including architectural fees, previous experience with school-related projects and the location of the architect.
Corona said the district will start advertising for architects’ proposals on Thursday.
He said he hopes to make his recommendation on which architectural firm to hire during committee meetings on Sept. 11.
The board should be receiving completed drawings by Oct. 9, Corona said.
The drawings will be used to determine potential costs for the proposed projects, he added.
Other issues taken up by the board included:
RIF POLICY: The board adopted a revised Reduction in Force Policy to comply with new state law.
Annette Mire, associate superintendent for Human Resources and Professional Development, told the board the new policy requires that the superintendent shall determine when RIFs are needed in the district.
The revised policy also says that layoffs are to be based on the state’s new accountability system, she said.
BUDGET HEARING: The board set a public hearing Wednesday to discuss the district’s 2012-13 budget.
The hearing is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Sept. 11 in the meeting room at the School Board’s office.
The board will hold a special meeting immediately following that public hearing to approve the proposed budget.