In a unanimous vote, the St. Tammany Parish School Board Committee as a Whole for business affairs and administrative matters recommended the renaming of the Technology Center in honor of the late Gov. Dave Treen to recognize his groundbreaking policies in education in Louisiana.

During his four years as governor, Treen established the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts in Natchitoches; encouraged professional growth through continuing education for teachers; raised teachers’ pay; and in general protected the legacy of education in Louisiana.

The wording of the name change to the facility has not yet been decided. The committee also recommended acceptance of the following construction projects:

The purchase of 10 acres of land, sections 26 and 35, township 9 south, range 14 east in Slidell at a cost of $1.85 million on the southeast corner of Lakeshore Village West and North Ring Road;

• The purchase of 3.81 acres on the southwest corner of Kostmayer Avenue and City Drive, section 44, township 9 south, range 14 east, in Slidell;

• Acceptance of the low bid submitted by Ragusa Construction, LLC of $1,409,000 for the classroom wing addition at Whispering Forest Elementary School, a savings of $1.7 million from the estimated $3.1 million;

• And acceptance of the low bid of $749,700 by Ragusa Construction, LLC on renovation for air conditioning upgrades for Carolyn Park Middle School, a savings of $.5 million from the estimate of $1.25 million.

The additional land in Slidell is needed for modular buildings next to Abney Elementary School. The school has seen an increase of more than 100 students this year alone, bringing enrollment at the school to over 1,000 students. The other property is recommended for purchase for another school to be built at some point in the future to relieve Abney’s overcrowding.

All other monthly construction, maintenance and custodial, risk management, transportation and purchasing reports were accepted as submitted.