If all goes according to plan, Allen Parish students will be running on a new track by next school year.

The track project located at Oberlin High School is among several construction, improvements and repair projects underway at schools throughout the district.

“There’s constant updates, repairs and construction ongoing and I don’t think it will ever stop,” Superintendent Kent Reed said.

The board accepted a $512,000 from GeoSurfaces, Inc. earlier this year to construct a centralized track facility for area high schools in Oberlin.

The project is among several being funded by the Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief fund (ESSER), which is federal money to help schools with challenges related to the coronavirus pandemic.

“The track is to help COVID and to get kids outside with social distance and building lung capacity,” Reed said.

There are currently no track facilities in the parish, which means schools have to travel outside the parish to compete in and host track and cross country events, Reed said.

In February, the School Board agreed to a $36,150 change order increase to widen the track lanes from 38-inches to 42-inches.

As part of the project, contractors are also doing some painting and other improvements at no costs to the School Board. Many of the projects were included in the original project bid, but were removed after the birds came in higher than expected, Reed said.

Reed said a red synthetic track will be laid and will take 30 days to cure before a synthetic surface can be poured over it.

That work will delay the track’s completion until early May, which will mean the track will not be ready for this spring’s track season or for Oberlin High School’s graduation.

In addition to the ESSER funds, the school district is also using other stimulus funds including those from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and hurricane recovery funds to complete projects at other schools.

“We are looking at how we can use these monies to help our infrastructure,” Reed said. “We are going to do that when we can.”

Additional ESSER funds are expected next year.

Among the projects, repairs were recently completed at Reeves High School to alleviate rain water backup in the office, cafeteria and hallway. The project included some sub-surface drainage and pipe work and several catch basins were installed. Work is pending on installation of gutters.

Drainage work was also completed at Fairview High School to ease drainage problems near the business lab.

“When it would rain, it would be up and kids and teachers would have to have rubber boots to get through that,” Reed said.

A bus canopy and two new air conditioning units were also installed at Fairview High School.

At Elizabeth High School, several metal canopies have been replaced and new air conditioner units were installed. Outdoor LED lights will be installed this summer.

Extensive drainage work is also underway at Oakdale Middle School in addition to painting and sprucing up around the school. An insurance claim will allow the school to replace all the ceiling titles this summer.

“I think it’s time for Oakdale Middle School to get a little attention,” Reed said.

Electrical work and improvements to the cafeteria are planned for Oakdale High School. Future plans include improvements to the ag shop and renovations to the front of the school.

The School Board is also exploring options to provide a canopy for parent drop-off at Oakdale Elementary School.

Work is expected to begin this summer on renovation of restrooms at Kinder Elementary School.

Parking lot repairs at the Oberlin schools have been completed.