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School board amends $757,299 plumbing notice at South Terrebonne High pending follow-up inspection
Summary
The Terrebonne Parish School Board approved a notice-to-proceed for plumbing repairs at South Terrebonne High School with a $757,299 budget but amended the motion to allow secondary pipe inspection and postpone major work if the inspection shows repairs are not immediately necessary.
The Terrebonne Parish School Board on April 14 approved a notice-to-proceed to Thompson, Luke & Associates for plumbing repairs at South Terrebonne High School, but the board added new language allowing work to be postponed pending a secondary camera inspection of the pipes.
Superintendent Corey Butler said the recommendation covers lining first-floor piping and replacing second-floor piping and requested a budget of $757,299 to be drawn from the building fund for the work, advertising of bids, and authorization for the board president or superintendent to sign documents tied to the project.
Frank Thompson of Thompson, Luke & Associates told the board the problem is largely corrosion and flaking from cast-iron pipes that sat unused during renovation, and that jetting and a prior camera inspection had shown extensive but localized deterioration. "This is meant to be a summer project," Thompson said, adding that larger repairs would be disruptive if done while school is in session.
Board member Matthew Ford, who moved the item, urged caution and asked that the board preserve flexibility; he told colleagues he had concerns about timing and procurement and said he was prepared to provide details outside the meeting. "I have the proof. I have the receipts," Ford said regarding what he described as irregularities some constituents had raised about insurance and procurement processes.
After discussion the board amended the recommendation to make issuance of the notice subject to "further evaluation of the pipes" so staff can return with the secondary inspection results before large contracts are executed. With that amendment in place the motion passed.
The board directed staff to advertise bids under the amended terms and to report any major project changes to the Buildings, Food Service and Transportation Committee. Funding for the action was listed as the building fund; the board record indicates the motion passed by unanimous consent with no roll-call tally announced.
Next steps: staff will arrange the secondary camera inspection and return to the committee or board if work is determined to be necessary or if major contract changes are required.
