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Committee approves adding Champ Cooper phase‑3 RFQ change after wide construction updates and Ponchatoula scope debate
Summary
The committee agreed to add a 10-classroom addition and a gym at Champ Cooper to upcoming RFQs; members also reviewed design standards, electrical low bids, athletic track surfacing trade-offs and two design options (one- vs two-story) for Ponchatoula as staff works to align scope with a $12,300,000 budget.
The Capital Outlay Committee approved adding a Champ Cooper phase‑3 change—specifically a 10‑classroom addition and a gym—to the district’s RFQ list and seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Member identified in the meeting as Miss Robin moved to add the change and was seconded by the member identified as Rose. The clerk recorded affirmative votes from Miss Amanda Abrams, Mister Anthony, Miss Rose, Mister Duncan, Mister Moore, Mister Piazza, Miss Richards, Mister Toler and Mister Westmoreland. The chair announced, "Motion passes." (Recorded motion and vote on the record.)
The vote followed an extended construction update from staff covering multiple projects. Staff said design standards and education specifications will be presented to the committee in February to guide phase‑3 work. Electrical projects have low bidders identified (Sharkey and Marks Electric) and pre‑construction meetings are scheduled. On athletic surfaces, staff reported that selecting a higher-end 'sandwich method' surfacing would cost roughly an additional $220,000 across three schools while extending serviceable life by an estimated two to three years — a trade-off staff characterized as mostly a maintenance-cost decision.
Ponchatoula drew the most discussion: architects presented two options (a two‑story building with 18 classrooms and a one‑story alternative that also totals 18 classrooms). Staff said the district is trying to align scope with a $12,300,000 budget and had asked the architect to provide options and alternates, including warming vs full-service kitchen and a covered dining pavilion. A board member asked whether reducing the count to 16 classrooms was possible; staff referred questions about changing classroom counts to the court order, saying the court specifies the number of classrooms and the allotted amount.
Multiple board members asked that future design decisions include representatives from the affected district areas and administrators before being brought to the full committee, and asked staff to hold additional meetings with architects to avoid surprises at public committee meetings. Staff said contractual kickoff dates and prior design kickoff timing affect project schedules; several projects listed groundbreakings in late 2026.
The committee did not amend or change the court‑ordered budget during the meeting. The motion to add the Champ Cooper RFQ change passed and staff will include that change in upcoming RFQ solicitations.
