Lafayette Parish School Board backs facilities approach, approves annual report and keeps EJ Sam at career center for 2025–26

Lafayette — The Lafayette Parish School Board on April 10 defended its recent approach to facilities work and approved the district's annual comprehensive financial report for fiscal year 2023–24, while also accepting staff's recommendation to keep Edward J. Sam Accelerated School of Lafayette at the W.D. Smith Career Center for the 2025'26 school year.

Board members spent much of the meeting responding to recent media stories and audit questions about how the district has packaged and awarded facilities projects. "The good old boy network is gone, and the cash cow is gone," the board president said during a lengthy defense of the facilities division's recent work, adding that the district has completed more projects in the last year than in previous years and that changes produced sizable savings.

Why it matters: the board and staff argued that revised procurement and project-bundling methods have delivered faster, cheaper work on school buildings and grounds; critics, including a local auditor and unnamed former employees cited in news coverage, raised questions about whether some procurement steps were consistent with public-bid practices. The board voted to approve the items that were on the consent agenda and later accepted the annual financial report after a separate discussion on the document.

What the board approved and discussed - Consent agenda: The board approved the consent agenda items not pulled, which included proclamations designating Youth Art Month, National School Social Work Week and National Nutrition Month; several facilities and budget items; and a recommendation to keep Edward J. Sam at the W.D. Smith Career Center. The motion to approve the consent agenda was made by Mr. Bajoran and seconded by Mr. Edmond; the board president then called the vote and the motion carried (transcript does not provide a detailed roll-call tally for the consent vote).

- Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (AFCR): Board member Mr. Hidalgo pulled item 3.6 (the AFCR for fiscal year 2023'24) to allow more time for discussion. After public and board comment, a motion to accept the AFCR "for fiscal year 2023'24 as attached in the public content section of this agenda item" was made and seconded; the motion carried (transcript indicates the motion passed; vote details not specified).

- Edward J. Sam Accelerated School: Staff presented a recommendation to leave EJ Sam at its current site at the W.D. Smith Career Center rather than move the program to Como, citing an estimated $1.3 million in renovation costs at Como and potential loss of recently realized savings at central office. "So again, this is what we are recommending ... that we would let EJ Sam stay where it is for the 25, 26 school year until further notice," a staff member said. Board discussion noted EJ Sam serves as an alternative, year-round site (students enter as early as sixth grade, classes range from roughly 8 to 20 students, and enrollment was described by staff as about 120 in the program overall, with multiple daily sessions). The recommendation was part of the consent agenda and was approved.

Discussion themes and notable remarks Board members repeatedly praised facilities staff for accelerating projects and savings. A board member said the district has completed projects such as pavilions and covered pickup lanes at lower cost than earlier estimates, and urged the media to report the broader context: "If you are going to put out articles, then maybe it's more pertinent for you to review the entire budget and also speak to current employees and and school board members," said one board member citing concern that stories were based on interviews with "potentially disgruntled ex employees." Another board member urged adherence to law while supporting faster procurement: "I will never support us not following the law," he said, while also praising the savings achieved.

Several board members and staff asked the public and press to consider the totality of work completed across the parish: projects were listed and offered for media review, and board members said the pace of work had improved and that bundling projects produced efficiencies.

Quotes "I simply pulled this item to give the board more time to discuss it," Mr. Hidalgo said when explaining why he pulled the AFCR for separate discussion.

"So again, this is what we are recommending ... that we would let EJ Sam stay where it is for the 25, 26 school year until further notice," Robert Gautreaux told the board when describing the facilities recommendation for EJ Sam.

"The good old boy network is gone, and the cash cow is gone," the board president said in a forceful defense of the district's revised procurement and project-bundling practices.

Context and next steps Board members said they will continue the current facilities approach pending legal review and advice from district counsel; several members asked staff to continue bundling work to reduce costs. The AFCR acceptance concludes formal action on the 2023'24 financial report for the district; Mr. Hidalgo had requested extra time for board discussion before the vote.

Votes at a glance (as reflected in the meeting record) - Consent agenda (items not pulled): motion to approve by Mr. Bajoran, second by Mr. Edmond; outcome: approved (vote carried; transcript does not provide a complete roll-call tally). - Item 3.6, AFCR for fiscal year 2023'24: pulled by Mr. Hidalgo for discussion; motion to accept AFCR made and seconded; outcome: approved (transcript indicates passage; detailed tally not specified).

The board adjourned after completing the agenda.