Livingston Parish board approves school change orders, insurance renewals, personnel contracts and property reversion

At a September 2025 meeting, the Livingston Parish School Board approved change orders for two school construction projects, accepted a budget committee report recommending insurance renewals, approved a set of performance-based employee contracts and agreed to a reversion of donated land to the original donors.

The board voted to approve change order No. 2 for the South Fork Junior High School project after presentation by Jim Zeiler of Zeiler Architects. Zeiler told the board the change order “consists of adding an electric panel for the HVAC system and that total is $13,878.” The board approved the change order by voice vote; a board member later noted the design team had identified an omission and said the firm would assume an additional $32,872 of costs tied to that mistake.

Jeff LaRosa of Coleman Partners Architects presented change order No. 2 for Denham Springs High School’s new field house, describing a package of design and construction revisions. LaRosa said the change order amount is $170,006.21 with no extension to the project schedule and listed items added or changed, including responses to fire marshal and permit-office comments, audio-visual and electrical infrastructure work, added CMU block at restroom chase walls, storefront window changes, brick finish changes, epoxy floor finish, a training room and a new coaches suite, revised ceiling heights, concrete slurry mix and press box foundations and the deletion of visual display boards. LaRosa stated the project’s total sum, as presented, would be approximately $6,000,002.33. The board approved that change order by voice vote.

The board accepted the Budget and Goals Committee report from its Sept. 16 meeting and voted to present the committee’s insurance recommendations to the full board for approval. Committee chair Jeff Cox reported renewal quotes for property and casualty insurance (effective 10/01/2025) presented by insurance consultant Carmel Breaux of Norris Insurance. The committee recommended Old Republic as carrier for general liability (including automobile liability and board errors and omissions) with an annual premium reported at $741,290; Liberty Mutual for machinery breakdown with premium $37,308; and primary and secondary layers for building and contents reported at $1,001,579 and $553,985 respectively (the committee reported a combined package total of roughly $3.3 million). The committee recommended rejecting terrorism coverage. The board voted to approve the committee report and carry the recommendations forward.

On personnel, the board approved the superintendent’s list of performance-based contracts for principals, assistant principals and other listed employees. Superintendent Pervis introduced the list; the motion to approve was made and carried by voice vote. During that item the board recognized Amy Spearman, who was introduced as the substitute principal at Walker Elementary.

The board also approved a proposed act of revocation and reversion of property transfer associated with Gary and Brenda Lewis’ 2011 donation. Board members noted that the original donation agreement included a reversion clause if no school was built; the board voted to allow the property to revert to the Lewises. Board discussion identified the parcel as located off the Satsuma exit, roughly a half-mile south of the interstate.

Other routine business approved included the minutes for the Sept. 4, 2025 meeting and authorization to pay invoices and district supplements. In superintendent remarks, Pervis said all school safety-plan reviews had been completed and requested that the Curriculum Policy Committee and Budget & Goals Committee meet before the Oct. 2 board meeting (committee members agreed to meet on a Tuesday near the end of September). Pervis also gave a preliminary enrollment update and said final official numbers will be posted on Oct. 1.

Votes at a glance - Approval of minutes (Sept. 4, 2025): motion carried (moved by Dr. McMorris; seconded by Brad Harris). - South Fork Junior High School, Change Order No. 2 ($13,878): approved (moved by Jeff Cox; seconded by Brad Sharp). Presenter: Jim Zeiler, Zeiler Architects. Note: presenter said his firm will assume an additional $32,872 for an omission by the design team. - Denham Springs High School field house, Change Order No. 2 ($170,006.21; 0 days extension): approved (mover/second not clearly identified in transcript). Presenter: Jeff LaRosa, Coleman Partners Architects. Presenter reported project total approx. $6,000,002.33. - Property reversion related to Gary and Brenda Lewis donation (04/14/2011): approved (moved by Dr. Ron; seconded by Brad Harris). - Budget & Goals Committee report (insurance renewals and cyber/sovereign insurance recommendations): accepted and approved for presentation to full board; committee recommended rejecting terrorism coverage. Committee chair: Jeff Cox; presenter: Carmel Breaux, Norris Insurance. - Performance-based employee contracts (listed in assembly): approved (moved by Bob Seals; seconded by Jeff Cox). New appointment noted: Amy Spearman, substitute principal, Walker Elementary. - Payment of invoices and district supplements: approved (moved by Bob Seals; seconded by Brad Sharp).

What the board said (selected quotes) "I'm here to ask that you approve change order number 2 for South Fork Junior High School. It consists of adding an electric panel for the HVAC system and that total is $13,878," Jim Zeiler, Zeiler Architects, told the board.

"This change order includes fire marshal design comments, permit office design comments, audio visual infrastructure and electrical modifications..." Jeff LaRosa, Coleman Partners Architects, said when summarizing the Denham Springs field house change order ($170,006.21).

"All of our schools have completed the review of their safety plans," Superintendent Pervis said during superintendent comments, and he asked for committee meeting times before the Oct. 2 board meeting.

Next steps The board gave approval for the items above; several items require follow-up by staff (finalizing contract paperwork, updating project budgets and documenting the design firm’s assumed costs). The district’s official enrollment figures will be published Oct. 1, and the Curriculum Policy and Budget & Goals committees planned to meet later in the month to prepare materials for the Oct. 2 board meeting.