Lafayette Parish long-range planning committee elects chair, narrows facilities list and adds Paulborough to replacement candidates

The Lafayette Parish Long Range Planning Committee elected Chad Desormo as chair and voted to update its committed-sites list on March 12, removing three projects already in progress and adding Paulborough Middle School to the list of sites considered for replacement.

Committee members and staff spent the bulk of the meeting reviewing the district’s progress removing portable classrooms and discussing options for replacing them with permanent wings. Robert Gautreaux, a facilities staff member, said the district has “completely eliminated Como High portables” and is auctioning others, but noted schools that still use portables must have seats found before buildings can be removed. Gautreaux described lower-cost wing options he has priced, saying a 14-classroom wing could be built for about $5,000,000 (roughly $350 per square foot) using simpler metal construction veneered in brick or CMU.

Gautreaux also outlined disposal costs: demolishing an unused portable runs about $10,000–$12,000 each. He said some portables go unsold at auction or are purchased by buyers who cannot legally reuse them, forcing the district to pay demolition costs. “If you do 20 at $12,000 apiece, you’re a quarter of a million dollars just in getting rid of the building,” he said.

Operations staff provided counts and progress on portables. Miss Gardner said the district had 483 portables in February 2016; after wing projects and other work, that number was down to about 201 portables as of last November. She gave site-level estimates: Acadiana High about 32 classrooms, Dusan (Doosan) 11, West Side 14, and one modular remaining at Katharine Drexel. Gautreaux said smaller capital-improvement projects (roughly $30,000–$250,000 each) total about $10 million on a separate list the district is pursuing with available capital funds.

The committee moved to remove three projects from the committed-sites list because work was underway or complete: Southside High home and visitor stadium (in progress), Lafayette Middle School library (complete) and SJ Montgomery Elementary (to be demolished/relocated). That motion, made and seconded during the meeting, passed unanimously.

During public comment, Ryan Martin, principal of Paulborough Middle School, asked the committee to add Paulborough to the replacement list, noting consultants had recommended phasing Paulborough and Northside High School for replacement, with Paulborough in phase 1. Committee members and staff discussed capacity and site options. Gautreaux said Paulborough’s brick-and-mortar capacity was built at roughly 1,100 for the entire campus, with a main building capacity of about 447, and that current enrollment was approximately in the low 300s and projected staffing for next year at 323.

Committee members proposed a substitute motion to add Paulborough Middle School to the replacements list alongside Northside High. Board members and staff discussed potential funding sources; one speaker referenced a self-funded construction fund with a projected balance of about $3.2 million as of June 30, but a committee member clarified that amount is one-time money and not recurring revenue available for bonding. The substitute motion to add Paulborough passed unanimously.

Other business: the committee elected Chad Desormo chair by nomination and acclamation at the meeting’s start; Robert Gautreaux gave the facilities update and walked members through the committed-sites list; and the committee set its next meeting to be held at Elio Judis (Elio Judy’s) at 4:00 p.m. on a date to be confirmed. That location/time motion also passed unanimously.

Votes at a glance: - Election of committee chair — Chad Desormo nominated by Mr. Lejeune; nomination closed and chair accepted (no roll-call tally recorded). - Motion to remove Southside High home & visitor stadium, Lafayette Middle School library and SJ Montgomery Elementary from the committed-sites list — Moved by Mr. Lejeune; seconded; passed (recorded yes votes by Mr. Lejeune, Chad Desormo and Miss Trahan; tally recorded as unanimous; outcome: approved). - Substitute motion to add Paulborough Middle School to the replacements list (alongside Northside High School) — Moved and seconded during meeting; passed unanimously (recorded yes votes include Mr. Lejeune, Chad Desormo and Mr. Hand; outcome: approved). - Motion to hold the next committee meeting at Elio Judis at 4:00 p.m. (date to be set) — moved and seconded; passed unanimously (recorded yes votes by Mr. Lejeune, Chad Desormo and Miss Trahan; outcome: approved).

Why it matters: Committee decisions narrow the district’s long-range capital priorities and shape which projects will be advanced to the full school board for formal approval and funding. The discussion on portable removal, demolition costs and lower-cost wing construction directs staff toward options that could reduce long-term maintenance costs and accelerate replacement of modular classrooms.

What’s next: The committee will forward the updated committed-sites list, including the addition of Paulborough Middle School, to the full board for final action. Staff said they will continue to refine cost estimates for wings and demolition and work on scheduling site visits for future committee meetings.