Lafourche school board approves curriculum subscription, insurance renewal and building name change

The Lafourche Parish School District School Board on April 1 recognized students and staff and then approved a series of routine but high‑cost items, including a three‑year McGraw Hill Reveal Math high‑school subscription and a multi‑hundred‑thousand‑dollar insurance renewal, and renamed a district building the Thibodaux Learning Center.

Board members began the meeting with awards and recognitions for students and staff before moving through committee recommendations and routine business. "It is always a pleasure to be able to recognize the staff and students in our district who are doing exceptional things," said Ms. Bolton during the recognition segment.

In business session the board accepted a three‑year subscription for McGraw Hill Reveal Math 2020 at a stated cost of $490,844.30. The purchase was presented as a curriculum adoption by committee and approved by voice vote.

The board also approved renewal quotes for multiple insurance lines—building and contents, drone liability and ship liability—with a combined premium read in the record as $1,833,380. The board rejected terrorism coverage and authorized the superintendent to sign the renewal documents.

Facilities and procurement actions approved included: awarding the Virtual Academy of Lafourche Thibodaux Renovations low bid to Edward J. LaPerouse Metal Works Inc. for $940,514 (base bid $853,000 plus a $87,514 design fee); accepting limestone bid awards with unit prices recorded in the minutes; authorizing advertising for classroom management software proposals for a three‑year term; and approving a two‑year extension of the district's drug testing services contract for athletes and employees.

A large change‑order credit for the Lafourche Parish Stadium Repairs project was read in the record; the amount was presented with an in‑line correction and recorded as $2,135,999.79. Board members asked whether the district planned to replace stadium seats; the record indicates seats were removed, brackets will be replaced and the aluminum planks will be reused rather than replaced.

On a naming matter, board discussion centered on whether the word "Annex" was the right label for the building at 800 East 7th Street in Thibodaux. "I don't really like that name 'annex,' it sounds like it's something that we're putting aside," said Ms. Pertuit, who moved an amendment to substitute "Thibodaux Learning Center." Ms. Babin seconded the amendment; the board approved the amendment and then voted to name the facility the Thibodaux Learning Center.

The board also approved hiring Salas and Brennan Inc. for hydronic piping insulation work at North Larose Elementary with a stated opinion of probable cost of $650,000 to be paid from the general fund; presenters described a schedule to complete the work during summer break.

Members voted to continue legal counsel from Mr. Patty Amedee while augmenting litigation capacity by approving the Block Law Firm to represent the district in court matters. "This would be augmenting the services that he provides this board by allowing the Block Law Firm to represent the school board for any litigations," said Mr. Martin during that discussion.

The board set tentative future dates and adjourned. Several routine proclamations and memorial resolutions honoring longtime staff were also adopted without extended debate.

Votes at a glance: the meeting record shows all listed motions carried by voice vote or unanimous consent; where a specific mover/second appears in the minutes it is noted in the full record. Details recorded in the meeting minutes include item descriptions and the segments where each action was presented.