Roofing work at Eunice Elementary is down to one building, according to an update by Claudia Blanchard, school system director of operations, at a St. Landry Parish School Board Buildings, Lands and Sites Committee meeting on Jan. 27.
“Mother Nature has not been kind to us,” she said about the project.
The original project was to install new roofs on three buildings on the Eunice Elementary campus and one at Eunice Junior High School. That was in August 2018.
On the second day of school in August 2018, a classroom building was damaged by fire, which delayed the roofing project as school officials waited for a determination as to whether the building was a total loss or to be repaired.
The next delay occurred when the administration building flooded in December 2018.
Another portable building and restroom facility were placed at the campus following the flooding incident.
A design issue was discovered that delayed the roofing project at Eunice Elementary.
And, as Blanchard pointed out there have been continuous delays due to weather.
But at the recent meeting, Blanchard said, “We are close to getting the third one on.”
Adjustments have been made in the work schedule, she said. Previously, work was not done while students were on the campus, but recently the work as proceeded during the day.
“It is not a danger in any way. They are just working on the fascia around the buildings,” she said.
Interior work is beginning on the fire-damaged building, she said.
“We are hoping that is going to progress a bit quicker,” she said.
The last project will be roofing at the junior high school.
“We are progressing,” Blanchard said. “I’m hoping we will be back in the administration building by April first and the reason for that is Mrs. Dupre (principal) really needs that space for testing and that is going to happen at the end of April.”
The final step will get fire marshal approval, she said.
“We’ve had a lot of setbacks for different reasons,” she aid.
