Upgrades and improvements at many Calcasieu Parish schools are well underway or complete in preparation for the first day of school this week.

In bonding district 31, the only district to approve last November’s bond proposal, many projects were completed this summer.

“Even people who didn’t vote for the bond are excited and appreciative of what’s taking place in the neighborhood,” said Fred Hardy, that district’s representative. 

Brenda Hunter Head Start and Combre Fondel Elementary School are “very close to completion” on many of their improvements, said Holly Holland, spokeswoman for the Calcasieu Parish School Board.

Both projects are in phase one, which includes drainage improvements, carpet replacement, flooring, new restrooms and a host of other upgrades.

Hardy said the improvements are a step in the right direction.

District 31 representative Glenda Gay said that although materials are on site, work has not actually started for other schools in that district like Ralph Wilson, Pearl Watson and J. J. Johnson Elementary School.

The schools are slated to have roof replacements, which Holland said will begin in the near future as the contractors and materials are already secured.

 All of CPSB’s schools have or will receive a variety of renovations as a result of the $50 million capital outlay fund appropriation enacted at March’s board meeting. The money has been distributed to each school on a per-pupil basis based on February’s enrollment numbers, Holland said.

Every school received upgraded or new security cameras in an effort to modernize and create more effective methods for school safety and accountability. Similarly, many schools have seen new or repaired fencing around the property lines.

Since this summer and over the course of the next year all schools in the district will see some measure of renovation including, flooring, cafeteria furniture, canopies, walkways, painting and special system installation.

Holland added that in addition to the above projects a number of major roofing, air conditioning and building projects are in the planning stages to be completed as part of the capital outlay fund.  

School Upgrades – renovations