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Story Archives: Construction of new Richwood, Sterlington schools to begin soon


Construction of new Richwood, Sterlington schools to begin soon
by Scott Rogers - posted Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008 @ 8:41 pmE-mail Story E-mail Story | Print Story Print Story 
Ouachita Parish School's superintendent Dr. Bob Webber is hopeful construction work on a new Sterlington elementary school and Richwood middle school can begin in February.

The school system hopes to have both schools open by August 2010.

The construction projects are being funded by a property tax extension approved by eastern Ouachita voters last year. That property tax extension provided the school system with roughly $30 million for construction of the two new schools plus renovations and the other existing schools in eastern Ouachita.

However, because estimates to build both new schools came in about $3 million over budget for each, the school system asked voters to extend its property tax a second time, to add one more year to the life of the tax. That second tax extension was approved by voters in July, and will generate approximately $9.2 million.

The school board first looked at cutting costs by reducing the number of classrooms at the proposed schools. Other options included using general fund money or consolidating schools. However, it was decided the option to extend the property tax again was the system's best bet to build the two new schools.

Classroom reductions for the proposed new Richwood middle school were a source of contention for some Richwood school officials and school board member Rev. John Russell, who represents the Richwood area. He proposed using general fund money to build a middle school that would be adequate to serve students in his district.

After months of debate, the school board eventually agreed to build the new Richwood school to accommodate sixth, seventh and eighth grade students. It will be built next to Richwood High School and will have 30 classrooms.

Another option the school board looked at to save cost in Richwood was a junior high school plan, which would only house seventh and eighth graders.

An issue delaying construction of the Sterlington elementary school also was recently resolved.

Originally, the state Department of Transportation and Development said the school system agreed to pay for improvements to La. 134 where the new school would be located.

DOTD informed the school system over the summer that road improvements at the intersection of La. 134 and U.S. Highway 165 could take up to three years.

The state wanted the school system to pay for the improvements since it didn't have the funds available to tackle the project, according to Ken Slusher, school board safety and construction coordinator.

Slusher said that until those improvements were made, the school system could not build a road that would lead into where construction would take place.

During Tuesday's regular school board meeting, Slusher said the problem had been resolved thanks to several Sterlington landowners who donated property to the school board. The school system has been granted permission to use Marion State Bank's road off U.S. 165 for construction purposes.

Currently, the school system is waiting on the architect's plans for both the Sterlington elementary and Richwood middle schools.

Once those plans are completed, the school system will accept bids.

"As soon as we get our low bidders in, we'll start construction," Webber said.

In the meantime, renovations and additions at the 16 existing eastern Ouachita Parish schools have been ongoing, Webber said.

"When we complete all this work in the next couple of years, we feel like our school facilities will be in great shape for many years to come," Webber said.
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