Renovations will soon be underway at Fenton Elementary School as part of a bond issue passed by voters nearly a year ago.

The Jeff Davis Parish School Board recently awarded the $1.3 million project to Pat Williams Construction of Lake Charles for renovations to the pre-kindergarten through eighth grade school. The company was the lowest of three bids for the project.

Voters in School District 5 of Fenton approved the 20-year, $1.7 million bond issue last April to fund maintenance and improvements of the school. The bond issue replaced a bond issue that expired earlier.

A separate 4.15-mill to support maintenance and improvements for the school was also approved by Fenton voters. The millage, which represented an increase of .13 due to reappraisal, is expected to generate $128,000 annually for the school.

“It’s been 20 years since we have had any major projects at Fenton Elementary School, so this will increase the safety, enhance security and improve the parking,”  Superintendent John Hall said.

Plans for the project include building a larger bus canopy, improving the outdoor student area and improving parking by moving it closer to the school building. A secured vestibule at the front entrance and fencing around the perimeter will augment safety and security for students, staff and visitors.

Some sidewalk work is also included in the overall project.

“The people are enthusiastic about having a facelift on the school,” School Board member Russell Walker said. “It will dress things up and add some safety features which are a big deal.”

Crews are currently finishing up on a roofing project on the school’s auditorium and gym.

School officials hope to have the renovations completed before the start of the new school year.

In other matters, the School Board also awarded a $372,000 bid to MorCore Roofing of Roanoke for the second phase of a parishwide roof improvement project. The company was the lowest of two bids received for the project.

The School Board agreed in January to spend more than $5 million to repair and replace aging, leaky and damaged roofs at various school sites.

The first phase of the three-phase project addressed aging and leaky roods at Welsh High, Lake Arthur High, Lake Arthur Elementary and Fenton Elementary schools. Those projects are nearing completion, according to Hall.

The next phase will focus on the main roof at Elton High School.

The roofing projects are being funded with revenue from the district’s general fund, along with insurance and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds.