• By C.J. FUTCH
• Advocate River parishes bureau
• Published: Jul 22, 2009 - Page: 1B

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GONZALES — The Ascension Parish School Board gave final approval Tuesday night to a list of building and renovation projects it hopes to fund through a $100 million bond election Oct. 17.

The projects include $16 million to replace G.W. Carver Primary School and $15 million in new additions to Prairieville Middle School.

Superintendent Donald Songy has said the system has faced rapid growth in the past few years and could double by 2030. That, coupled with aging buildings, prompted the board’s decision to ask voters for a property tax extension to fund these projects, along with upgrades to 17 other schools.

The board’s Strategic Planning Committee met before the July 6 regular meeting to fine-tune the final draft of the list, honing projects down from a $104 million total to $100 million, and shuffling others to fit in more urgent priorities. One of the main changes was the addition of security cameras and controlled-access systems for all campuses, not just high schools.

Other changes meeting final approval Tuesday involved interior work to St. Amant High School. Chad Lynch, director of planning and construction, said the original plan called for relocating the school’s main office to the front of the building, making the office easier to find. Lynch said the school can address that problem with cosmetic changes — a canopy — to designate a clear front entrance to the building. Those changes will be bid out as an addendum to a planned $5.2 million classroom addition on campus, Lynch said, so if the project goes over budget, it can be dropped.

System officials also dropped removal of temporary buildings at East Ascension High, and replaced it with restroom renovations at the school.

The bond proposal will go before the state Bond Commission on July 23. The bonded debt would be repaid, if voters approve the measure, through a four-year extension of an existing 15.08-mill property tax.

In other business, the board:

n Approved the town of Sorrento’s request to name the new school planned for the Orange Grove subdivision as the Sorrento Primary School. “We’re very grateful,” Sorrento Mayor Blake Leblanc said after the meeting. “It was important to our community.”

n Reviewed Songy’s performance in executive session, giving him high marks for academics and accountability, leadership and above-standard achievement, Public Information Officer Johnnie Balfantz said.