Committee accepts multiple bids, hears progress reports on school construction and security projects

The Building Food Service Champion Committee on Aug. 19 recommended the board accept low bids and approve project budgets for several district facility projects, and received progress updates on larger construction programs. Committee members voted to accept the lowest responsive bid for the Westpark Annex building reroofing from Edward J. LaFleur’s (bid amount reported as $192,590) and to establish a total project budget of $215,200 to be paid from the district building fund. Steven Viguerie of DDG said the project “includes a total replacement of the Westpark Annex building” roof, that the design team received eight bids and that the original budget had been $275,000. The committee also recommended accepting a bid from Vault Inc. for a freezer/cooler replacement (bid $413,000) and establishing a total project budget of $458,885 from the building fund; Taylor LeBlanc, a mechanical engineer, said staff received two bids and recommended accepting the base bid and Alternate 1 for the recommended contract amount. Separately, the committee approved issuing a notice to proceed to Sherman and Bruce, architect, for a secured fencing project at South Tobin High School and set an initial project budget of $20,000 from the building fund to allow bid advertising and design work. Committee members clarified the fence will run along multiple edges of the campus, including areas from the auditorium to the corner of the building and between the gym and main building. The committee received a notice of substantial completion for security perimeter work (phase 2) at multiple schools — Kolterbaye Blue Elementary, Evergreen Junior High, H. L. Bourgeois High, Broadmoor Elementary, Leespark Elementary and Marbury Elementary — dated Aug. 6, 2025. Daniel Bruce told the committee crews are doing punch-list and final paperwork, with minor items remaining such as closet installations; “we pretty much finished the job on time,” he said. On larger rebuilds, Andy Positer of GFP Architects reported FEMA approvals for Upper Little Caillou and Grand Caillou elementary schools following earlier RFIs; he said Upper Little Caillou will advertise for bids Oct. 8 with a Nov. 6 bid opening, and Grand Caillou will advertise Dec. 17 with a Jan. 22 bid opening. Steve Rome of Verdes Rome Architects gave an 85% completion status update on Tabone High School construction documents, describing a planned three-year construction schedule with an October 2025 advertise and a November 2025 bid opening. Facilities maintenance staff reported summer work including AC installations at Oakshire and Coteau Bayou Blue, replacement chillers at Acadian completed just before school started, and a temporary replacement after a lightning strike at Legion. “We had a great opening this year,” said Mr. Sam, a district maintenance staff member, praising the maintenance team’s work to keep schools functional for the start of classes. Staff told the committee they will proceed with the recommended contracts and advertise the listed projects according to the schedules provided, and that they will return to the board for formal contract awards and final authorizations where required.