Tangipahoa Parish panel approves Parent roof repairs, moves ahead on career-center design amid equity dispute

The Tangipahoa Parish School Board’s Capital Outlay committee on an agenda advanced several facility items Thursday, approving a low bid for Parent School roof repairs, authorizing an architect to design an expansion of the Advanced College and Career Center’s ProStart and trades kitchen, and approving engineering reviews of electrical systems at several schools.

The architect authorization for the career center generated the lengthiest debate. Board member Mr. Moore said the board should prioritize work identified in a court‑ordered snapshot assessment of 11 schools before approving new design work, and he voted against the measure. “I will be voting no, on item d… I further recommend that these items be introduced on a future agenda only after we have made substantial progress in addressing the disparities identified in the snapshot report,” Moore said.

Why it matters: The measures cover both urgent repairs and longer‑range planning. The Parent roof repair responds to hurricane damage and will proceed to construction, while the career center authorization funds only design work; the board also authorized engineers to redesign main electrical services at multiple schools to avoid costly emergency repairs.

The committee approved the low bid for Parent School roof removal and repair after the apparent low bidder withdrew; procurement staff recommended the next lowest bidder, Spring Roofing and Construction. The motion to award the contract was made by Mr. Toler and seconded by Mr. Piazza; voting was recorded as passing unanimously.

On the Hammond High Magnet School HVAC project, staff said the bid appeared on March 13 but the architect had not yet completed its recommendation. Facilities staff asked for up to five more days to review the bidder and said the project would not be complete by August. Board members asked staff to investigate temporary air‑conditioning options for Hammond High’s gym for summer and fall events.

The committee also discussed an asbestos abatement bid for the Advanced College and Career Center gym and kitchen; staff said the bid opening was scheduled for the next day and no action was taken at the meeting.

The board voted to hire an architect to design the next phase of the Advanced College and Career Center — specifically, the ProStart and related skilled‑trades kitchen spaces. Administration described the vote as approval to proceed with design only; construction and funding decisions would return to the board later. District staff said grant funding from the college‑and‑career CDF account and potential private donations could offset costs: “We already have $500,000 from that fund that we've been saving to put towards the center,” a district official said, and staff added that the program generates about $249 per participating student.

Several board members defended the career center authorization as a cost‑efficient way to serve students districtwide. Mr. Duncan said consolidating specialized vocational spaces — for example, one welding facility rather than multiple smaller ones — could save money and expand program access to students from many high schools. Supporters also said private partners have expressed interest in investing if the project shows progress.

Opponents argued the board should show faster progress on the 11 schools named in the court‑ordered snapshot assessment. Moore said some snapshot repairs remain undone and that prioritization of the career‑center design felt premature until disparities identified by the court are meaningfully addressed.

The committee also approved a request to proceed with electrical engineering reviews for Ponchatoula High (Chester Road), Hammond High, Amy Elementary, Kentwood High and Sumner High gyms. Board members said many service feeds are past their useful life and that proactive redesigns can avoid emergency generator work and higher costs later.

Votes at a glance: - Parent School roof removal and repair — low bid recommended for Spring Roofing and Construction after apparent withdrawal of low bidder; motion by Mr. Toler, second by Mr. Piazza; motion passes unanimously (tally not enumerated in the transcript). - Advanced College and Career Center: hire architect for ProStart and trades kitchen design — motion approved; recorded vote: motion passes with Mr. Moore voting no (individual yes votes not enumerated in the transcript). - Electrical engineering reviews and redesign authorization (Ponchatoula High, Hammond High, Amy Elementary, Kentwood High, Sumner High) — motion by Mr. Toler, second by Miss Rose; motion passes unanimously.

The Capital Outlay meeting closed after the committee completed the listed items. Staff said design work and further bidding will be presented to the board in future meetings once architect recommendations and bid openings are complete.