Expansion project underway to ease overcrowding

LACASSINE — Lacassine High School continues to work on upgrades as part of a $4 million expansion and improvement project approved by voters in April 2016.

The project includes 16 new classrooms, an expanded cafeteria, new administrative offices, a new entrance facade and energy efficiency upgrades. The project should ease overcrowding for the K-12 school, said Principal Christina Fontenot.

“As the school continues to grow we need more room,” she said. “This project will give us the space we need for a growing community with 21st-century classrooms but still keep that rural community feeling.”

Enrollment was 675 last year, but is expected to reach nearly 700 this fall as a result of increased housing and economic development in the area.

Construction will still be underway when school opens Aug. 11, but plans are in place to ensure the safety of the students and faculty as the work continues.

“We want the parents to know that everything will run smoothly and the children are going to be safe,” Fontenot said. “There has been lots of planning and coordinating among the school administrators, contractors, maintenance department and architect to make it all happen. We will be ready for the start of the new school year.”

An alternate entrance will be used for the first day, and administrative offices will be temporarily relocated next to the mini gym and in the school’s library, Fontenot said. The new office area is expected to be finished by the end of this month, with the new entrance completed by mid-September.

Plans for the new entrance include a 100-foot covered bus ramp across the front.

Construction also continues on two buildings, which will house eight elementary and eight high school classrooms. The work is expected to be done in February.

The new classrooms will allow for five classrooms to be moved from the gym.

Most of the renovations of the cafeteria will be completed by the first day of school. The cafeteria has been expanded by 30 feet to increase seating capacity, Fontenot said.

Work will continue on a pantry and dishwasher area for the cafeteria but will not affect the cafeteria serving students.

LED lighting and a new cooling and heating system will make the school more energy efficient. The cooling and heating system replaces an outdated boiler system.

Future plans calls for renovations of the old mini gym.

Crews work on a new classroom building at Lacassine High School. The project, which will add eight elementary and eight high school classrooms, is expected to be completed in February as part of a $4 million expansion and improvement project. (Doris Maricle/American Press)