Photo by Bobby Ardoin
BOBBY ARDOIN
Contributing Writer
Exteriors and interiors at many St. Landry Parish public schools are becoming brighter, thanks to a series of grant funding from state officials and privately-owned utility companies.
Operations Director Claudia Blanchard told a Building, Lands and Sites Committee on Monday night that recent grants from the Public Service Commission have enhanced outside and inside LED lighting at Beau Chene, Opelousas High, Port Barre High and Washington and Port Barre elementary schools.
Blanchard said parking lot lighting at those schools has been improved.
“Inside the schools, you can really see a difference that this lighting has made,” Blanchard told the committee.
School Board member Josh Boudreaux, whose election district includes Beau Chene, told the committee that the new LED lighting has vastly improved a parking lot area that was park.
“It’s so bright out there now, the students could sit outside and do their homework,” Boudreaux said.
Blanchard reminded board members that the LED lighting program has been accomplished over a series of years without cost to the school district.
The program has included cooperative agreements between the school district, the PSC and private utility companies, Blanchard said.
During the length of the program, 20 parish public school sites have had LED lighting installed, Blanchard said.
Blanchard added that grant funding for additional projects at Cresswell Middle School, Glendale and Highland elementary schools in Eunice and at the Central Office in Opelousas is under negotiation with CLECO officials.
Also a similar grant through Entergy could bring LED lighting to Arnaudville, Cankton, Grand Coteau and Leonville elementary schools, said Blanchard.
