Schools across parish to benefit if bond renewal passes Saturday

By Debbie Glover

St. Tammany News

Schools in every part of St. Tammany Parish would benefit from the proposed bond renewal to be voted on Saturday.

The St. Tammany Parish School Board is requesting a $167 million bond renewal that would not result in new taxes but simply reauthorize bond indebtedness.

Most of the money requested, $100 million, will be used for capital improvements to existing schools.

The other $67 million will allow for the construction of two new schools, plus technology and security improvements on each school campus.

A breakdown of planned capital improvements is:

  • Abita Springs Elementary School, $9,797,300 for new physical education building, eight new classrooms with restrooms, four new offices, a new conference room, renovation of existing cafeteria and multipurpose building into an expanded cafeteria.

  • Abney Elementary School, Slidell, $5,525,300 for new administrative area, renovation of existing front entry and enclosure of breezeways.

  • Bayou Lacombe Middle School, Lacombe, $4,512,900 for renovation of front wing.

  • Boyet Junior High School, Slidell, $2,585,625 for new administrative area and student services area.

  • Carolyn Park Middle School, Slidell, $2,145,000 to replace the air conditioning and heating system for two classroom wings, cafeteria and library.

  • Creekside Junior High School, Pearl River, $3,981,889 for a 10-classroom addition with restrooms.

  • Fifth Ward Junior High School, Bush, $11,483,200 to add new cafetorium/chorus/band building, renovate existing cafeteria into library, renovate existing library into computer lab and renovate oldest wing.

  • Folsom Junior High School, $7,010,457 for the addition of a new cafetorium, addition of rest room and renovation of old classroom wing.

  • Fontainebleau Junior High School, Mandeville, $8,878,432 to replace two original modular wings with conventional construction.

  • Harrison Curriculum Center, $7,961,250 to renovate the existing building.

  • Lee Road Junior High School, Covington, $3,981,889 for a 10-classroom addition with restrooms.

  • Mandeville High School, $5,153,400 for the addition of a two-story administrative area, student services and classrooms.

  • Pitcher Junior High School, Covington, $14,225,750 for renovation of existing main building and renovation of existing gymnasium.

  • Slidell High School, $5,621,000 for renovation of two main hallways, five classrooms, band room and restrooms between hallways.

  • Whispering Forest Elementary School, Slidell, $3,627,750 for the addition of eight new classrooms with restrooms.

  • Woodlake Elementary School, Mandeville, $3,192,608 for the renovation of original classrooms, restrooms and hallways.

    By area, the financial breakdown of existing improvements is:

  • Abita Springs $9,797,300

  • Bush $11,483,200

  • Covington $18,207,639

  • Lacombe $4,512,900

  • Mandeville $17,224,440

  • Slidell $19,504,675

  • Pearl River $3,981,889

  • Folsom $7,010,457.

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