By Pat Culverhouse
Heating and cooling system maintenance and repairs will be handled by a single company after Webster Parish School Board members agreed Monday to terms of a proposed year-to-year contract beginning with the 2026-27 school year.
Board members voted unanimously to accept recommendations that would pay Mechanical Cooling Services, LLC an approximately $228,000 annual fee for daily upkeep, repair and maintenance of the H-Vac systems at all parish school board facilities.
Included in the contract is a provision for an onsite company technician who would be housed at the central office maintenance area.
Funding for the contract will be provided by school maintenance funds and parish-wide maintenance funds.
Board members also approved just over a half million dollars worth of change orders on school projects in north Webster Parish.
At Brown Upper Elementary, change orders of $457,031 were given the thumbs up. Included in the orders were replacement of windows, installation of metal fascia and soffit, plus replacement of cafeteria windows and doors.
Also, drainage improvements will be added to direct water away from the building in areas where water had been entering.
Project architect Perry Watson told the board the additional outlay could easily be absorbed since the project came in roughly one million dollars under the proposed budget.
Change orders on projects at North Webster High School totaling $56,126 were approved, covering items including a counter shutter for in the boys’ locker room, data drop modifications, fencing to enclose McMahen Park, drainage improvements at the tennis courts and additional contract days due to weather delays.
During Monday’s meeting, members also:
- Named Ivion Harris of North Webster High School winner of the Kevin J. Washington Memorial Scholarship, presented by Kevin Thompson of Taylor and Sons.
- Recognized Melanie Lewing on her retirement as Special Education Supervisor in a presentation by Thompson.
- Recognized students Layla Garrett and Taylor Roberson for earning associate’s degrees from Bossier Parish Community College while enrolled in high school, and Bryce Parker for earning a technical degree from Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College while completing high school studies.
- Saw Logan Cleveland of North Webster High School receive a $2,000 STEM Scholarship from Lyndon Johnson, Calumet’s Community and Government Relations Specialist.
- Approved 2025-26 budget revisions.
- Approved updated job descriptions for both certified and un-certified parish positions, and approved a new job description for Special Education Facilitator,Speech/Language Specialist.
- Approved the 2027-28 academic calendar, which was approved by 62 percent of staff surveyed.
Members also approved, in globo, $100,747.04 worth of invoices to be paid from the various school district maintenance and sales tax funds. Payments included:
- Consolidated District 3 Maintenance Fund: $12,718.58. Major payment of $8,950 to replace three-ton split system with new unit at Central Elementary.
- District 6 One-half cent sales tax fund: $71,430.60. Payments include $21,950 to change breaker in main distribution panel at Minden High; $14,340 to install new fittings on sewer line beneath J.L. Jones Elementary; $9,614 to cut out concrete section and repair broken sewer pipe on lower side at J.A. Phillips Elementary; $8,639 to cut out concrete section and repair broken sewer line on upper side of J.A. Phillips Elementary.
- Cotton Valley Maintenance Fund: $347 to spray 4.62 acres of Bahia grass at North Webster Upper Elementary.
- Doyline Maintenance Fund: $2,126 includes $1,418 to renew contract with Arbiter Pay to pay game officials at Doyline High.
- Sarepta Maintenance Fund: $441 to spray 5.88 acres of Bahia grass at North Webster Jr. High.
- Shongaloo Building Fund: $616 to spray 8.21 acres of Bahia grass at North Webster Lowe Elementary.
- Springhill Maintenance Fund: $13,067.86. Major payments of $8,943 to install new four-ton split system AC unit in office at Brown Upper Elementary; $2,098.86 to purchase one desktop computer and one monitor for clerical work and camera footage viewing at Browning Elementary.