Lafourche Parish committee hears progress reports on school repairs, flags moisture testing on roofs

The Lafourche Parish Land and Facilities Management Committee on July 15 received a series of progress reports on school-repair and Hurricane Ida recovery projects across the district.

Committee Chair called the meeting to order and introduced reports from district staff and outside engineers, who said work on multiple campuses is advancing despite intermittent weather delays.

Ingrid Williams reported that work at Golden Meadow Middle School is progressing: the gym floor has been completed and returned to the school, new foundation piles have been driven at the new building and reroofing is finished, with only paperwork left before final closeout.

Doug Dorsey updated the committee on utility and site projects. At North Rose Elementary crews have replaced chilled- and hot-water pipe insulation and are finishing ceiling and grid work; Dorsey said the school should reach punch-list and completion within about a week. He also said recent rains have delayed groundwork and pile installation for the scoreboard at Central High but that the team expects to make up time if dry weather returns before the season.

Taylor LeBlanc, a chemical engineer with CGU Engineers, said the contract for the Thibodeaux High sanitary-pipe replacement has been delivered to the contractor and the team is awaiting paperwork before issuing a notice to proceed. LeBlanc added that the contractor received boilers for a separate boiler-replacement project but requested a 120‑day schedule extension and submitted supporting documentation for that request.

Anne Depository told the committee that work at Pankaj Buff Elementary is moving despite weather and that Central Lafourche High remains in disagreement with a contractor over the work plan for a roof replacement. "We are not going to accept the roof until we have reassurance from that report as well as the acceptance from the roof manufacturer," Depository said, referring to a planned rescan to check for trapped moisture.

Michael Baddo reported on stadium repairs at Thibodaux High, Central Lafourche and South Lafourche: top-side coating and bench-seat reinstallations are advancing, underside repairs continue and some coating work is being held until a suitable dry-weather window.

The committee did not take policy action on these updates. Members pressed for moisture testing and manufacturer acceptance before final roof acceptance and were informed that an independent inspector will monitor coating installations when work resumes.

The committee is scheduled to receive further updates at the next meeting.