The renovation of Albany Elementary School's old cafeteria is drawing to a close, with the Livingston Parish School Board approving final construction details at Thursday evening's meeting.
The project has converted the old cafeteria into new classrooms, offices, and a library. "The project," Chris Bankston of Gasaway Gasaway Bankston Architects stated, "is at a point where we're pretty much ready to turn it over."
The board unanimously approved a change order for the finishing touches of the project in the sum of $38,687.63. These final details include new stairs and ramps, a chainlink fence, and new paving around the back of the cafeteria to level the area and allow the palletjacks to operate with less hassle, according to Bankston. The construction project also included a credit of $6,500 to turn the four painted frames inside the cafeteria into anodized ones, which will hopefully increase their durability and stability for many more years to come.
Even with these last minute touches and the previous setbacks involving energy issues, Bankston noted that, due to the hard work and dedication of the work force involved in the construction, the project will still finish "a month or so ahead of time."
Superintendent Jody Purvis noted that "as soon as we get that last inspection, we'll be ready to start the move in process" at Albany Elementary.
The school board also unanimously approved Purvis's servitude agreement and CEA with the city of Walker, which Purvis stated would grant the city "access from part of our property by the South Walker Elementary" in order for the school "to get on the city sewer services" and "remove the current sewer plant" that's currently on the grounds.
The board also approved bids for Albany High School's welding equipment. The bids, which were voted on during the school board meeting on Sept. 7, were recommended to go to "Lindy Gas and Equipment as the lowest responsible bidder" by Accountant Bridget Demonica. The school board voted unanimously in favor.
The meeting concluded with Purvis announcing that "two cohorts… are going to be starting here in the district… in the next week or two." The first cohort is a New Principal cohort while the second is an Aspiring Principal cohort.
The aspiring cohort "will target individuals who are aspiring to be a principal in our district" in a "year long focus where [the school board] will have monthly meetings with these individuals" to gauge their abilities and help build their readiness for their roles. Purvis noted that the program will be intensive due to its nature as an application based program, with only "20 or 21 people [having] been selected" from "54 applicants."
These programs and renovations like the Albany Elementary cafeteria remodeling come as the school system continues growing. Student enrollment has increased from "26,889" students last year to "26,918" students this year—a 29-student increase that's expected to continue in coming years.
