School board approves design/RFQ process for multiple Phase 3 campus projects after referral motion fails

The Tangipahoa Parish School Board Capital Outlay Committee voted to begin design and procurement steps for multiple Phase 3 campus projects, including gym and classroom work at Independence High School and Sumner Middle School and a series of classroom additions intended to replace leased portables.

The action followed a separate motion to refer nine Phase 3 projects (items B, E, F, J, K, L, M, N and O) to a strategic and facilities planning retreat, which failed on a roll-call vote. After debate about whether the board should consider projects individually or delay them for a retreat review, the board adopted the administration's recommendations to issue RFQs and start design work for the listed Phase 3 projects.

Why it matters: authorizing design and RFQs starts the formal procurement process for architects and produces the programming documents and opinions of probable cost that the board said it needs before committing to full construction. Board members repeatedly said they want more data — including how projects were assigned to Phase 3 — and several asked for an expedited retreat to review strategy and priorities before construction decisions.

What the vote did (what was authorized): the approved actions direct staff to initiate RFQs and design work for Independence High School gym and classroom additions, Sumner Middle School gym and classroom additions, Hammond Eastside Upper classroom addition, an automotive center for the career center, and multiple classroom projects intended to replace leased portable buildings at several campuses. The board clarified that campus-level design should allow architects to consider combined solutions (for example, integrating classrooms with a gym) when appropriate.

Board discussion and concerns: board members raised concerns that hiring architects begins a process that will incur professional fees (staff explained an opinion-of-cost at programming is available at roughly 5% of the architect fee and that architect fees typically average roughly 8% of total project cost). Several members said they had not seen the data supporting the Phase 3 list and asked for a retreat to review strategic priorities and building conditions. Dr. Sanders described a possible funding approach for Independence — a dome-style gym that could qualify for FEMA support if used as a storm shelter, and said some local partners had discussed leveraging external funding.

Direct quotations from the meeting: “This is just to do the initial design to see if they — just to send out the RFQs to for architects,” said a board member during the motion to proceed. Dr. Sanders said, “That's the idea that we have for independence because that's a need for our community.”

Next steps and timeline: staff said the RFQ/hiring process would produce programming and cost opinions and that final architect selection and contract approvals would return to the board for separate votes (staff estimated architect hiring decisions could come back around February). The board asked staff to schedule a strategic and facilities retreat as soon as possible to review data and priorities.