Plans move forward for $200 million in repairs to Terrebonne schools damaged by Ida
Officials are preparing to sell $200 million worth of bonds to repair Terrebonne Parish public school buildings damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Ida.
The School Board expects a significant portion of the costs will be paid by insurance proceeds, federal grants and reimbursements and FEMA aid. The board has not set a firm timetable for when repairs will be complete.
The Category 4 storm, which hit Aug. 29, destroyed or damaged many of the system's buildings and prompted changes in scheduling and other procedures.
Students from several schools in the parish's bayou communities are sharing buildings. Ellender High students are attending classes in the afternoons at Terrebonne High. South Terrebonne students are doing the same at H.L. Bourgeois High.
Earlier this month, the School Board named Volkert Inc. of Mobile, Ala., and Hammerman & Gainer of New Orleans as project managers to lead the district’s rebuilding effort.
The board has scheduled a special meeting for this Tuesday to hear proposals for debris removal.
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Superintendent Philip Martin said bids will be received this month for portable, temporary buildings that will be set up at South Terrebonne and Ellender high schools.
“That project is right around the corner for being kicked off,” Martin said.
Martin said the public is aware that schools like Upper Little Caillou and Grand Caillou elementaries were heavily damaged, but other campuses also require a lot of repairs.
“A whole wing at Evergreen [Junior High] to the cafeteria at Bayou Black [Elementary] can't be used,” Martin said. “So there are repairs like that all over the parish. ... It's going to be a very involved process. It's going to take some time to get everything fixed.”
This article originally appeared on The Courier: Plans advance for funding Terrebonne Schools repairs from Hurricane Ida
