Committee approves design work to replace Sumner High portables with permanent classrooms

The Tangipahoa Parish Capital Outlay Committee approved moving forward with design and feasibility for a classroom building at Sumner High intended to replace portables used for band, Civil Air Patrol and self‑contained special‑education rooms.

Administration reported the campus is fully utilized and lacks a classroom for a new teacher; portables are currently serving multiple functions. A board member moved to pursue a cinder‑block building that matches the campus exterior and suggested the district consider ‘‘prepackaged’’ modular designs (for example, four‑, six‑ or eight‑unit plans) that could be replicated at other campuses to control costs.

One board member referenced Woodland Park, noting a recently completed project that met space needs at a lower cost than earlier estimates. The motion to initiate design work was seconded and passed on roll call.

Board members asked staff to keep the plan simple and cost‑effective and to return with design recommendations and cost estimates. The committee recorded unanimous support for beginning the design phase.