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School board approves use of committed funds for David Thibodeaux competition gym
Summary
The Lafayette Parish School Board approved using committed funds to build a competition gym at David Thibodeaux, including locker rooms, restrooms, concessions and space for about 1,000 spectators; supporters urged an expanded athletic scope during public comment.
The Lafayette Parish School Board approved using committed district funds to build a competition gym at David Thibodeaux, the board confirmed after public comment and a voice vote. A motion to approve the consent agenda, which included item 2.7 authorizing use of committed funds for the David Thibodeaux competition gym, was made by Mr. Bajoron and seconded by Mr. Desarmo; the board president announced the motion carried.
The project matters to students, staff and community members who said the school lacks essential athletic support. "My basketball team and I want to have a second gym because if we don't have a second gym, then we wouldn't have enough space for all the teams...to be able to practice," said Harper Downs, a seventh-grade student at David Thibodeaux. Student Imani McCoy told the board that sharing one gym created safety risks and had forced the school to host playoff games away from campus.
A public commenter with construction experience urged the board to expand the project's scope beyond a single competition gym. "I would request that the scope for this work be slightly modified so that the school can meet LPSS' core values and provide clean, orderly, and safe environments," said Chris German, who identified himself as having more than 20 years in project management and construction. German asked the board to consider outdoor restrooms, concessions and track and field facilities while setting the final project scope.
Superintendent (name not specified) described elements the district plans to include once the funding action was approved: "There'll be gym. There will be restrooms. There will be locker rooms. There will be concession stands. There will be a lobby, and there will be coaches' offices, and there will be a capacity of about 1,000 within that gym," the superintendent said, adding district staff would begin work as soon as the measure passed.
Board members expressed broad support during comments, saying the gym has been needed for years and praising student turnout at the meeting. Several board members noted the school has been unable to host playoff games because its facilities do not meet hosting requirements.
The consent motion that contained the gym authorization passed by voice vote as part of the board's consent agenda; the board president declared "motion carries." The agenda item listed the funding source as "committed funds"; the meeting record does not state a dollar amount, project timeline, or construction contract. Those details were not specified during public comment or the discussion on the record.
Next steps identified on the record are internal: district staff said they would begin planning and scope work after the board's approval. The transcript does not record a construction schedule, contract award, or final project budget.
