Eunice Elementary roof work approved

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Two change orders for roofing work at Eunice Elementary were approved by the St. Landry Parish School Board on Thursday.
On Aug. 2, 2018, the Board approved $1,099,000 for roof replacement at the elementary school and Eunice Junior High School.
Work at the school since then has faced a series of setbacks.
On Aug. 14, fire destroyed much of the interior of a classroom building at Eunice Elementary.
Temporary buildings were moved onto the campus to accommodate the students displaced by the fire.
On Dec. 27, the administration building was flooded.
The administration building included office space, a library, computer lab, restrooms and a classroom used for music.
Again, another temporary building was moved to the campus to replace the damaged administration building.
In January, the School Board approved a $364,300 bid from Martin Insulations and Coatings, LLC, for renovation of the fire-damaged building on the Eunice Elementary campus.
In Thursday’s action, the two change orders approved for roofing work are:
— $171,757 for additional structure support for a pitched roof at three buildings.
— $255,295 to remove and replace the roof at the Eunice Elementary administration building that was damaged in the flood.
Randy Wagley, chairman of the Buildings, Lands and Sites Committee, said that after speaking with the architect he is convinced the change orders are needed.
“I’m still not 100 percent convinced that we should have to pay for it,” he said. “But I guess we will have to cross that bridge when we get to it.”
Mary Ellen Donatto, Board president, said too talked with the architect and is certain the work needs to be done.
In a February committee meeting, Claudia Blanchard, school system director of operations, said bar joists and angle iron need to be added to support the pitch roof. The roofs were previously flat and about 60 years old.
The bids were solicited based on the original design plans, which do not match what was constructed, she said.
Superintendent Patrick Jenkins said he agreed with Wagley in questioning whether the school system should bear the entire cost, but said the work must be done.
“The longer we wait it is already possible that we may or may no make the August deadline,” Jenkins said.