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Terrebonne Parish School Board approves multiple policy updates, bids and facility budgets and moves into executive session
Summary
At its Sept. 2 meeting the Terrebonne Parish School Board approved a package of revised policies, awarded and authorized bids for food service and construction projects, adopted a resolution to participate in Hurricane Ida CDBG-DR recovery, and voted to meet in executive session on two pending lawsuits.
The Terrebonne Parish School Board on Sept. 2 approved a slate of revised district policies, authorized procurement and construction actions including reroofing and refrigeration projects, adopted a resolution to implement Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) agreements for Hurricane Ida recovery, and voted to enter executive session to discuss two pending lawsuits.
The approvals came largely on committee recommendations and passed by voice vote after limited public comment. The board also approved bids and budget amounts for several building and food-service projects and authorized officials to sign related documents.
The actions affect district policies on suspension and expulsion, child abuse reporting, bullying and hazing, internet and computer use, instructional materials and related student-safety rules. The board approved contracting steps and budgets for campus projects, including a West Park annex reroofing, a freezer/cooler replacement at Oak Lawn Middle School, and a South Terrebonne High School security fencing project. The board adopted a resolution authorizing the board president to execute agreements needed to implement the CDBG-DR program for Hurricane Ida recovery, and called an executive session to discuss two legal matters involving the sheriff/tax collector and Blake International Riggs LLC.
Board actions in brief
- Approved minutes of the Aug. 5, 2025, school board meeting (motion moved by Roger Dale DeHart; seconded by Dr. Cloutier). The motion passed.
- Adopted multiple revised policy files recommended by the Education Technology and Policy Committee: H-3.5 (suspension and expulsion); H-4.5 (child abuse); H-3.3 (bullying and hazing); H-2.1a; G-8.3 (computer and Internet use); G-7 (instructional materials); and H-3.6h. These were committee recommendations and were approved by the board with no recorded public opposition.
- Approved a cooperative endeavor agreement between Terrebonne General Health Systems and the Terrebonne Parish School Board. The board authorized the president to sign documents pertaining to that agreement.
- Authorized the Child Nutrition Department to advertise a six-month bid (Jan. 1–June 30, 2026) for meat, frozen items and canned/dry goods, funds to be derived from the Child Nutrition Fund (moved by Roger DeHart; seconded by Dr. Colce). The board also authorized solicitation of bids for "local beef" for the same period; board members clarified that "local beef" must be produced and slaughtered in the state of Louisiana.
- Authorized the purchasing department to advertise for moving services for South Terrebonne (mover/second recorded in committee). The board approved the solicitation.
- Approved the lowest responsive bid for West Park annex reroofing from Edward J. Laperouse Metal Works for $192,590, and established a total project budget of $215,200, funds to be derived from the Building Fund. The board authorized the board president to sign the necessary documents.
- Approved the lowest responsive bid meeting specifications for Oak Lawn Middle School freezer/cooler replacement from Bolt Incorporated with a total project budget of $458,885, funds to be derived from the Building Fund and the Child Nutrition Program Fund. The board authorized the board president to sign related documents. District staff and the project mechanical engineer, Robert Utley, explained the work includes more than equipment replacement and requires demolition, new openings and floor work because the project repurposes former boiler-room space adjacent to the kitchen to create larger cooler/freezer capacity and delivery access.
- Issued a notice to proceed per contract to architects for the South Terrebonne High School security fencing project and established a budget of $200,000, funds to be derived from the Building Fund; the board authorized advertising for bids and the president to sign documents. Board members said final material selection (for example, whether to use cyclone fencing across some areas and different material across the front facade) had not been decided and that the estimate reflects perimeter length, gates and site-specific requirements.
- Adopted a proclamation recognizing Constitution Week, Sept. 17–23, 2025.
- Adopted a resolution authorizing the board president to execute agreements required to implement the Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program for recovery from Hurricane Ida. Board members said the district will use approved CDBG-DR funds for projects already requested by the board — including work at Fletcher.
- Approved the lowest bid meeting specifications for career and technical high welding equipment and supplies from Gas and Supply for Sept. 3, 2025–Sept. 2, 2026, with an option to extend by mutual agreement.
- Entered executive session to discuss two pending legal matters: 1) Timothy Saunier, in his official capacity as sheriff and ex officio tax collector of Terrebonne Parish, et al. v. Louisiana Tax Commission et al., BTA docket L02449; and 2) Blake International Riggs LLC v. Timothy Saunier, sheriff, Terrebonne Parish, 32nd Judicial District Court, docket 201456. A motion to go into executive session was made and seconded and approved.
Board members and staff who spoke on record included Education Technology and Policy Committee chair Dr. Closier; committee vice chair Debbie Benoit; board members Matthew Ford, Roger Dale DeHart, and others; Superintendent Bob O'Angero; and project mechanical engineer Robert Utley. Utley described the Oak Lawn refrigeration work as including demolition, reconfigured openings and flooring and on-site access changes, not just direct equipment swap-out.
Why it matters
The approved policy revisions update student-safety and discipline guidance and technology-use rules the district said are aligned with practices other districts are adopting. The procurement and construction approvals commit Building Fund and Child Nutrition Fund dollars to facility repairs and equipment that district staff said are needed for foodservice capacity and school security, and the CDBG-DR authorization allows the board president to execute agreements that will enable disaster-recovery projects already sought by the district.
What’s next
Several projects will proceed to bidding and contract execution; board staff said the Building Fund will still retain a balance after the approved projects. The board moved into executive session to discuss the two legal matters; no executive-session outcomes were disclosed in the public portion of the meeting.
