St. Landry Parish School Board Considers Hiring Facility Consultant

Officials with the St. Landry Parish School Board are considering hiring a consultant that would be charged with developing a comprehensive plan for repairing the school system's aging structures.

The School Board has given their approval to Superintendent Edward Brown to start up preliminary discussions with Poche Prouet Associates Ltd.

The consulting firm's representatives have already presented a proposal for a physical needs assessment of each of the schools.

James Poche, with Poche Prouet, told the board last week the company would not charge the school system more than $180,000 to perform a four-part assessment of the district's campuses.

Brown and other school officials plan to meet with Poche this week, and then they plan to present the initial report at the July meeting.

Officials say building maintenance is being hampered by a lack of good planning.