Board approves multiple facility repairs, security vestibule and portable-site work ahead of school year

The school board approved a series of facilities actions addressing hurricane Ida damage, security upgrades and energy-efficiency projects as the district prepares for the coming school year. The buildings, food-service and transportation committee recommended—and the board approved—contracts with Michael Blanchard Inc. for kitchen equipment repair services and for refrigeration equipment repair services, each to run from Aug. 6, 2025 through June 30, 2026 with up to four one-year renewal options. Committee minutes indicate funds for those contracts will be derived from the Child Nutrition Fund. A change order of $36,505.60 was approved for additional roof and gutter repairs on the Lewis Miller/Terrebonne Career and Technical High School project that increased contract time by 207 days; the change order is funded largely by FEMA reimbursement and local funds, the record states. The board accepted the lowest responsive bid meeting specifications from Freedom Builders LLC to construct a security vestibule at Kotobayo Blue Elementary (bid amount recorded in committee motion), and established a total project budget; approval authorized the board president or superintendent to sign documents. A related change order to the Kotobayo Blue HVAC replacement—$26,561.82 for mechanical modifications associated with the security project and for mold-and-mildew–resistant gypsum board—was also approved with funds from the building fund. The board issued a notice to proceed to Volut Inc. for a lighting retrofit project at Evergreen Junior High to be funded through the Louisiana Public Service Commission statewide energy-efficiency program for public entities. Separately, the superintendent presented and the board approved a notice to proceed for plans and specifications for site preparation for three portable buildings at South Terrebonne High School. Staff said the portables are replacement in-kind and that one portable will house a special-education classroom requiring ADA-compliant restrooms; funds will be derived from the building fund. Board members recorded no objections on the items and asked staff to report any major project changes back to the buildings committee prior to advertising bids.