School board approves $375,000 in remaining 2023 bond funds for athletics, parking and classroom tech

The Bulldog Parish School Board on Oct. 6 approved three allocations totaling $375,000 from remaining 2023 bond funds to address athletic facilities, parking and classroom technology.

Board members approved using $150,000 for DHS athletic facilities after amending the original item to broaden the scope from softball and baseball to 'DHS athletic facilities.' A board member arguing for the change said the facilities have safety issues, noting that 'Some of our sidewalks have deteriorated and have crumbled' and that several athletic sites are now 'subpar facilities' that merit incremental investment.

The board also agreed to a $125,000 allocation to pave the Pinewood parking lot on Veil Branch Street, converting the district’s last dirt parking area and resolving a trip hazard near a teacher parking area. District staff described plans for concrete curbing, drainage adjustments and preserved trees; they said the design includes additional accessible parking spaces at the sidewalk ends.

Finally, the board approved a $100,000 purchase of Chromebooks and smart boards for classrooms. One board member raised durability concerns, saying 'the longevity of a Chromebook is not 4 years... it's more like 4 months.' District staff responded that, as a Google district, Chromebooks provide the most capability for the price and that the district has had more issues with laptops in prior rollouts; staff said they will pursue Chromebooks with greater storage for specific student needs.

All three allocations were approved by voice vote; the transcript records ayes but does not include roll-call tallies. The measures were described as reallocations of the remaining 2023 bond balance and were presented as smaller, targeted projects while larger bond-funded work is bid out.

Next steps: staff will proceed with contracting and bids as described for each project and bring implementation details back to the board as required.