Chip Moore, regional operations director for Johnson Controls who oversaw construction of energy saving projects across the Evangeline Parish School District, reported to the Evangeline Parish School Board the project has reached substantial completion four months ahead of schedule.
The news came during the board’s meeting Wednesday, June 19.
“We received the notice to proceed with construction on October 18, 2018,” Moore said. “Originally, we planned on a 12 month construction duration. We reached substantial completion yesterday (June 18). Since this is an energy savings contract, that allows you to recognize those energy savings four months earlier.”
Moore went on to report 11,676 high performance LED lighting upgrades were installed as well as 1,420 occupancy controls, 320 dual switches, and 120 new acoustical ceilings.
More importantly, according to Moore, is now “all the classrooms in the district meet or exceed the state requirements for illumination.” He added, “When we started the project, based on our preconstruction audit, we had less than 50-percent of the classrooms” that met the state requirements.
Superintendant Darwan Lazard, later in the meeting, reported he will be meeting with United States Congressman Mike Johnson, who represents Evangeline Parish, while attending the AASA Convention in Washington, DC.
“He’s always been very gracious,” Lazard said, “and I’m hoping to visit the other members of the Louisiana delegation.”
While meeting with the congressman, Lazard plans on discussing ways the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can look at projects to mitigate flooding around school campuses around the parish.
In other business, the board:
• approved a price quote to extend a fire alarm to the fieldhouse at Ville Platte High.
• authorized the superintendant to purchase a concession stand for the Pine Prairie High School baseball program.
• authorized the superintendant to enter into an agreement to conduct building assessments.
• approved low price quote to refinish the auditorium stage at Pine Prairie High School.
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TONY MARKS Editor