Board approves 2025 millage rates, contracts for routing and construction, and names Luke Ford Junior Field

May 7, 2025 — The Lafourche Parish School Board approved a slate of business, procurement and facilities items, including adoption of millage rates for the 2025 assessed roll, contract awards for food, janitorial and transportation services, several construction change orders and the formal naming of a Thibodaux field.

The board adopted the millage rate resolution levying rates on the 2025 assessment roll, including rates listed in the resolution for constitutional, retirement obligations, safety, general maintenance, salary supplement and debt service levies (detailed millage keys and rates were read into the record). Board members moved the resolution and the motion carried.

Procurement and contracts: the board authorized the purchasing department to advertise bids for frequently purchased equipment and supplies for fiscal year 2025–26 and approved multiple low-bid awards. The board accepted the lowest, most responsive bidder JS (emergency environmental service provider; agenda material listed bidder name as "JS"), and awarded Gramma Isle Shipyard the bid for limestone at $56.92 per ton and for crushed limestone at $54.23 per ton. The board approved a three‑year routing services agreement with First Student for $203,999. A bus driver, Tammy Rivera, spoke during public comment and asked the board to consider training current bus drivers to handle routing input to reduce reliance on expensive outside services; the board noted the comment and proceeded to vote.

Facilities and change orders: the board accepted multiple change orders including a $64,266.74 total contract adjustment (including a design fee adjustment) for Golden Meadow Middle School and a separate change order to add steel channel for gymnasium repairs at Golden Meadow Middle School totaling $13,193.02 and adding 14 days to the project schedule. The board accepted a low bid from PCO Construction Company Inc. with a base bid of $314,000 and design fees of $35,195 (total project $349,195) for hurricane-related miscellaneous repairs at multiple campuses. The board also approved a $583 purchase to install a project information sign at the LPSD bus yard, and accepted a $4,500 credit to omit hydronic insulation repairs at Golden Meadow Lower Elementary as part of a hurricane repair project.

Site and naming actions: the board voted to name the field at the intersection of Carmel Drive and East Seventh Street in Thibodaux the Luke Ford Junior Field, and authorized placement of two concrete pads and a 4-foot black aluminum fence around leased property at the same intersection. Board members discussed coordinating sidewalk repairs with city permitting where necessary.

Food, janitorial and service contracts: the board accepted Flour Bakery Company, Borden Dairy and several food vendors as lowest responsive bidders for food products for the 2025–26 school year and accepted bids from Jam Pack LLC and others for paper and janitorial supplies. The board approved Joe’s Septic Service as the low bidder for grease-trap cleaning for 2025–26. Vendors and specific class assignments were read into the record.

Appointments and administrative housekeeping: the board appointed James Gougier to the Board of Commissioners of Special Education District No. 1 to complete a term expiring May 2025. The board selected The Daily Comet as the official journal for the Lafourche Parish School Board for July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026.

Action taken: Individual motions for each agenda item were moved and carried; where vote tallies were not read into the record the minutes record the outcome as "motion carries." See "Votes at a glance" below for each item and the meeting transcript timestamps.

Votes at a glance: - Adopt millage rate resolution (Item a, Business Committee): approved (motion carries). - Authorize advertisement for bids for frequently purchased equipment and supplies (Item b): approved. - Award emergency environmental service provider to JS (Item c): approved. - Award limestone bid to Gramma Isle Shipyard ($56.92/ton; $54.23/ton for other grade) (Item d): approved. - Authorize three‑year routing services agreement with First Student ($203,999) (Item e): approved. - Accept change order requests and project adjustments at multiple campuses, including Golden Meadow Middle School ($64,266.74 total contract adjustment) and gym steel channel ($13,193.02 plus 14 days) (Item 6 & Item 8): approved. - Accept low bid from PCO Construction for hurricane repairs (base bid $314,000; total $349,195) (Item 6.d): approved. - Name field in Thibodaux the Luke Ford Junior Field and authorize pads/fence (Items 6.e & 6.f): approved. - Approve food, milk and janitorial vendor awards for 2025–26 school year (Item 6.b and related): approved. - Accept Joe’s Septic Service for grease-trap cleaning (2025–26): approved. - Appoint James Gougier to Special Education District No. 1 board: approved. - Select The Daily Comet as official journal (07/01/2025–06/30/2026): approved.

Where the record includes public comment, comments were summarized in the meeting minutes and taken under advisement; where dollar amounts or vendor names were read into the record they were recorded as presented. Detailed contract documents, bid tabulations and the signed routing services contract are kept in the district purchasing office.