Livingston Parish School Board approves tax-collection agreement, construction change order and multiple procurement contracts

The Livingston Parish School Board on March 2025 approved several routine administrative and procurement items including a cooperative endeavor agreement to collect a new Denham Springs hotel-motel tax, a construction change order for Albany Elementary's cafeteria addition, authority to advertise for a STEM Center addition in Denham Springs, and multiple ratified bids and proposals for technology, food service equipment and fuel.

Sales tax collector Mike Curtis presented a cooperative endeavor agreement to collect a new 6.75% hotel-motel tax for the city of Denham Springs, noting it is in addition to the parish's existing 3% tax collected for the tourist commission and that the tax is effective April 1. Curtis said the new tax will fund pay raises for police and fire personnel and that the school board's office will retain the standard 3% collection cost. The board voted to approve the resolution; the motion passed with no recorded opposition.

Architect Chris Banks recommended approval of change order number 2 for the Albany Elementary cafeteria addition and renovation. The change order included relocation of existing gas lines found during excavation, upgrading kitchen flooring to an epoxy standard to be used parishwide, and installing underground conduit and tie-in boxes to remove overhead lines. Banks said the total amount for the change order is $95,344.28. The board approved the change order.

Board members also authorized the superintendent to advertise for bids for an addition to the Denham Springs STEM Center that would add classrooms and administrative offices. Technology director Mr. Williams asked the board to ratify two proposals received: RFP 25-03 for wide area network (WAN) connectivity and RFP 25-04 for Internet access. The district selected Rev for the WAN proposal (the tabulations showed Rev as the chosen provider) and Rev was also the sole proposer for Internet access. Williams reported the WAN pre-E-Rate cost would be about $355,000 annually (down from about $390,000 three years earlier) and that, if awarded E-Rate funds, the district's reimbursement rate would typically be about 80%. Internet access pricing was presented as $18,600 per year pre-reimbursement (roughly $3,700 after an 80% E-Rate discount if awarded).

The board ratified bids for food service equipment for Doyle High School (award to Lafayette Restaurant Supply) and a one-year fuel contract with options to renew for two additional years (award to Suncoast Resources). The board also approved payment of invoices and district supplements.

Votes were taken by voice; in each listed item the board recorded "all in favor" and no opposing votes were announced.

The board moved later to an executive session to discuss confidential student matters pursuant to LSA-R.S. 42:17.7; no public action on those student items was recorded in the open session portion summarized here.