The Jeff Davis Parish School Board gave Superintendent John Hall and engineer Byron Racca the greenlight Thursday to seek bids for the Lacassine High School softball and baseball field complex.

During Thursday’s school board meeting, Hall and architect Steve Hotard, provided updates on the development of the new baseball and softball fields at Lacassine High School, as well renovations at Elton Elementary School and new bleachers at Elton High School. Improvements to the football field at the Jerry Simmons Stadium in Jennings are also moving forward.

The board unanimously agreed to sign cooperative endeavor agreements with the state to receive funds for the construction of the softball and baseball complex at Lacassine High School, as well as replace aging bleachers at Elton High School.

Lacassine High School received $300,000 from State Rep. Troy Romero and State Sen. Mark Abraham through the state’s capital improvement funds for construction of softball and baseball fields, according to Hall.

The board granted Hall and engineer Byron Racca of Meyer and Associates authority to seek bids to construct the baseball and softball field complex on a 20-acre site located just west of La. 101, south of the railroad tracks. The property is located off campus, but is owned by the school.

The project will allow the softball and baseball teams to practice and play in Lacassine. The teams currently uses fields in Jennings and other areas to practice.

Bids for the project are expected to be open in January with work scheduled to begin by the spring, according to Hotard.

The board also awarded a $598,530 bid to Hornsby Sports Turf for renovations to the Jerry Simmons Stadium field in Jennings.

The project will include the complete replacement of the grass field with a new grass field to include reshaping the field, as well as drainage work and sidewalk improvements and fencing work around the stadium, Hotard said.

The project is expected to be completed in time for high school graduation ceremonies in May.

The majority of the project costs will come from the remaining construction fund from Ward II schools, Ward II sales tax funds and Ward II maintenance funds.

The school board is also working with the architect to develop plans for designs and additional improvements to the stadium, which was built in 1939. Proposed plans include a new concession stand, ticket booth, restrooms, press box and field house. Improvements to the stadium parking and lighting and being considered as part of the project.

Board members hope to finalize plans for the project by February.

The board also awarded a $2.5 million bid to K&J Development for renovations at Elton Elementary School as part of a bond issue approved by voters.

The project includes plans for construction of a new eight-room classroom section with two restrooms and administrative offices. The project will allow the school to replace an older section of the school located on the north side of the campus, Hotard said.

Construction is expected to begin soon and will be completed in August.

The board also moved forward on plans to replace aging bleachers inside the Elton High School gym, using $100,000 in capital improvement funds from the state.