A proposal on how to spend more than $30 million in bonds the Lafayette Parish School Board sold last month includes big projects at three area high schools and addresses severe overcrowding in Youngsville schools. The Lafayette Parish School Board will review a proposal Wednesday from Superintendent Pat Cooper on how to spend more than $30 million in bonds the board sold last month, paving the way for large-scale renovations at three area high schools and new classrooms for overcrowded schools in Youngsville.
According to the proposal attached to Wednesday's meeting agenda, Cooper is recommending that the $33 million in bond money be allotted to the following six schools:
Northside High - $2.56 million
Thibodaux Tech Magnet STEM Academy - $9 million
G.T. Lindon Elementary - $8.96 million
Youngsville Middle - $$5.37 million
L.J. Alleman Middle - $3 million
Lafayette High - $2 million
The $30 million in bond sales was originally slated to be spent entirely at Thibodaux Tech, but the majority of the board last month followed the superintendent's recommendation to alter the focus of Thibodaux Tech High School from a technical high school to a rigorous magnet school, saving roughly $40 million along the way.
As IND Monthly reported in its June 6 news story, "Growing Pains," the shift allows for the $30 million in bonds (plus $3 million from the board's capital improvements budget) to address critical overcrowding in Youngsville, where schools have surpassed maximum capacity by more than 1,000 students and new residential developments pop up almost daily.
The projects proposal is listed on the agenda as an introductory item, but the board could take action at Wednesday's meeting if a majority of the board members decide to move the agenda item forward for a vote.
The school board meets at 5:30 p.m. at central office on Chaplain Drive. The meeting is open to the public.