CARISSA HEBERT
Editor
OBERLIN – Bids were accepted for the projects at three Kinder schools on Monday at the Allen Parish School Board meeting.
The board approved the base bid and alternate one plan from M.D. Descant for Kinder Elementary and Kinder Middle schools in the amount of $3,750,000.
It also accepted the base bid and alternate one plan of $4,282,000 from E.L. Habetz Builders Inc. for Kinder High’s improvement project.
Superintendent Kent Reed said these projects could begin within two to three weeks since they had two different contractors working on the projects.
Reed also announced the Oakdale Elementary Project was basically finished. Some cleanup is taking place around buildings and on the playground.
Reeves High School’s principal house and property, located across from the school, was declared surplus property. The board gave Reed permission to advertise for bids for the property.
He said the old principal’s house hasn’t been occupied for a few years. The last principal to reside there was Miss Green. Last year, the district put a new roof on it.
In his comments, Superintendent Reed said teachers received demand and performance pay last Friday for those who qualified. Checks ranged from $200 to $600.
He said the board’s audit has been completed. He complimented Tammi Ritchie, director of finance, and her staff on a great job. There were no new findings.
He welcomed Stephanie Perry as the new principal at Oberlin Elementary.
Kenny Courville gave an update on the Rave button app. Louisiana State Police is funding the program for the next two years and working with the state for future funding. The program allows an app to contact different agencies when dangerous situations exist on a campus. The app only works when the person is on campus, and only those entered in the program can utilize the app. If an emergency would occur on a campus, an alert would go out to all employees and notify them where the problem exists as well as contact 9-1-1, fire, sheriff, etc. of the situation.
Lori Lemons reported on a visit to the district by the educational theater of Kenner, La. They performed King Arthur and the Magic Sword at Oakdale High School. She thanked Reed and Courville for helping with transportation, and Brad Soileau for allowing the use of his school’s auditorium. She said approximately 1,200 students attended the event.
In other business, the board:
•Gave the superintendent permission to sign a Joint Service Agreement with the sheriff’s office, tax assessor and police jury to split the cost of updated the aerial imagery of the parish.
This has not been done since 1993, and the cost is $80,000. New imaging equipment will allow the map to be at a higher resolution. The base map will allow better maps for election districts, taxing districts, bus routes, etc. It will be completed in January or February on a clear day. The agencies will have use of it soon, but the public should be able to utilize the data within the next year.
•Authorized the superintendent to advertise for food service technicians at Oberlin and Fairview schools, and advertise for a special education teacher aid at Fairview High School.
•Approved a trip to the FFA National Convention in Indianapolis Indiana at the end of October for Robert Friday and Elizabeth High School FFA students.
Board member Greg Monceaux congratulated Kinder’s FFA leader Sullivan Fontenot for his recent state win. He said the forestry team won and received four individual awards.
Board members Carolyn Manuel, Cathy Farris and Jason Turner were unable to make the meeting.