Ouachita Parish School Board approves stadium sound system, multiple contractors and permissions to bid; receives financial update

The Ouachita Parish School Board on Aug. 13 approved replacement of the sound system at Richwood High School, selected architects for several roofing and sports-area projects, awarded multiple construction and supply contracts and granted permission to bid on larger bond-funded projects, while the district finance officer reported current fund balances and planned drawdowns of bond and maintenance funds.

Board members voted to replace the Richwood High School stadium sound system and authorized funding to purchase a complete replacement. The board also approved selecting an architect for sports-area complex improvements at West Washington High School and chose Architect Alliance to design roof replacements and partial reroofing at West Monroe High School, West Washington High School, George Wilts and Crowley Elementary; the roof work was described as funded from the district’s maintenance and operations (M&O) roofing fund.

The board heard a financial report for the period ending June 30, 2025. Staff reported a general fund projected ending balance of about $20.4 million and noted an expected deficiency in closing entries of roughly $2.2 million that will be adjusted as accruals are completed through the end of August. The M&O fund balance was presented as about $28.7 million with a projected negative adjustment of roughly $2.7 million as ESSER-funded expenditures shift back into M&O and general fund lines. Board staff said the district has been using bond proceeds to advance construction and is now drawing down some previously accrued M&O balances for routine maintenance and capital items.

On procurements, the board approved the following awards and permissions (motions passed on voice votes unless otherwise noted): Grindstone Construction was approved as low responsive bidder for Riser Middle renovations and improvements ($2,167,000, funded by West Ouachita sales tax); three vendors (Veritiv, Staples and Jackson Paper) were approved for the district copy paper contract; Geo Services was approved for Ouachita and Sterlington High School baseball and softball field replacements (bid amount recorded at roughly $4.29 million); and Henry Schein was approved for West Road High School training-room furnishings ($142,412.19). The board also authorized reissuing a property-sale bid for a Gordon Avenue parcel with a proposed bid floor of $9,950 after no bids were received at 80% of appraised value.

The board granted permission to bid for larger projects under the East Side bond package, including Sterlington High School classroom additions and athletic improvements with a listed budget of $6,650,000; Ouachita Junior High track and athletic improvements (budget $810,000); a band instrument bid (budget $120,000); and training-room equipment for Western High School with a $60,000 budget (funded from West Ouachita sales tax). For one baseball/softball replacement package the presenters said the project included additional drainage work that raised Sterlington’s portion of the combined bid.

Facilities staff reported progress on multiple summer construction and renovation projects across the parish, noting closeout on many items and remaining work on a field house and turf installations. The district is installing a new turf product with a 12-year warranty on recent fields, and staff said returfing schedules should improve with the newer materials and warranties. The construction updates also included expected timelines for Sterlington classroom additions (bids this month, openings in September, construction starting in October–November and target completion in early 2027). Staff noted contingency funds and prior instructions to hold some project funds in reserve for change orders; the board discussed using available M&O or remaining project funds to cover the stadium sound system cost rather than bond funds.

Separately, the board reviewed a package of eight policy changes identified for preliminary consideration by the policy review committee; seven of the eight were described as reflecting recent changes from the state legislature and BESE. The Policy Review Committee will discuss the packet at its next meeting and the full board will vote in September whether to adopt any changes.

Superintendent-level remarks to the board noted the first day of school had occurred the day before the meeting and thanked operations and school teams for summer work preparing campuses. Staff also said state legislative stipends for district employees—$2,000 for certified employees and $1,000 for support staff—must be expended by December 2025 and that the payroll/finance team plans to distribute them before fall break.

Votes at a glance - Richwood High School stadium sound system — approved (voice vote; roll call: board members present voted in favor). Funding source: M&O discussed as primary source; amount presented to replace system: $60,000 (amount presented in meeting). - Selection of architect for West Washington High sports-area complex — approved (motion and second; one abstention recorded). - Selection of Architect Alliance for roof work (West Monroe HS, West Washington HS, George Wilts, Crowley Elementary) — approved (voice vote). Funding: M&O roofing fund. - Grindstone Construction — approved for Riser Middle renovations and improvements, $2,167,000 (funded by West Ouachita sales tax). - Geo Services — approved for Ouachita and Sterlington HS baseball and softball field replacements, bid amount ~ $4,289,298 (presented figure clarified during discussion). - Veritiv, Staples, Jackson Paper — approved for district copy paper bid (items allocated among vendors; details in procurement packet). - Henry Schein — approved for West Road High School training-room furnishings, $142,412.19. - Permission to rebid Gordon Avenue property sale with a proposed bid floor of $9,950 — approved. - Permission to bid: Sterlington High School classroom additions and athletic improvements (budget $6,650,000, East Side bond) and several other bond-funded items — approved.

What remains for follow-up: staff will return with final contract documents and specific fund-source confirmations, the Policy Review Committee will meet to vet eight draft policies before a September board vote, and the finance office will complete year-end accrual entries through August and distribute the state stipend payments before fall break.

Ending The board set its next regular meeting for Wednesday, Sept. 10 and closed the session after a motion to adjourn. Members and staff thanked campus operations and finance teams for summer preparations and payroll planning ahead of fall distributions.