The Webster Parish School Board approved a construction change directive Monday night for required city utility hook-up revisions on the Minden High School Multipurpose Building project. The directive, totaling $49,484.63, will be funded through the Minden Building Fund.
The revisions include adding a new sewer manhole cover over a new 6-inch sewer line, installing an additional tee, backflow preventer, and meter to the existing water main piping, and extending a 3-inch line to connect it to the main at the street. The work, required by the city, is scheduled to be completed by ELA Group during the weekend of February 15-17.
Perry Watson of Yeager, Watson & Associates provided an update on the long-delayed project, stating that it is currently 75-80% complete. Initially slated for completion in November 2022, the project has encountered significant delays. While ELA Group estimates completion by May, Watson anticipates it could extend into summer or early fall.
The construction change directive was issued instead of a change order because ELA Group refused to sign the change order. Unlike a change order, which modifies the original contract, a change directive allows the board to authorize the necessary work independently. Watson acknowledged the project’s financial strain, noting that it is significantly over budget.
“They still are in liquidated damages now by about two years,” Watson said. “That will be settled at some point when the project wraps up.”
Additionally, the board granted permission to advertise for bids on Job #2024-08, which includes athletic improvements to North Webster High School and McMahen Park. Planned improvements at North Webster High include a new field house, an equipment storage building, a visitors’ concessions restroom building, track and field renovations, and resurfacing of the tennis courts. McMahen Park improvements include replacing two press box buildings and the restroom and concession building.
A number of expenditures were also approved, using district maintenance funds to enhance school campuses across Webster Parish.
In other business, the board recognized Victoria Young, a teacher at North Webster Upper Elementary School, and Tina Wilkins, a teacher at Jones Elementary School, as Employees of the Month for January and February, respectively. Nina Willis was also honored as the district’s first Reach University graduate. These stories will appear in an upcoming Minden Press-Herald article.
The board approved six faculty members from Jones Elementary School to travel to Atlanta, Georgia, in May to participate in The Ron Clark Academy, funded by Title I. Several student field trips were also approved, including the Minden High School Nature Club’s trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas, North Webster Upper Elementary’s fifth-grade trip to the NASA Science Center in Houston, Texas, and North Webster Junior High’s trip to Dallas, Texas, for an educational visit to Medieval Times and the Dallas Mint Bank. Webster Junior High School will be taking about 35 students to the Dixie Center for the Arts in Ruston on February 8.
A resolution was adopted identifying the completion of Continuing Learning Units by school board members in 2024, and a revised Sick Leave Bank Policy was approved, which allows employees to voluntarily donate accumulated sick leave to another employee.
The Webster Parish School Board’s next meeting is scheduled for March 3 at its Sheppard Street office, and the public is invited to attend.