School Property Fire Changes Plans
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
The presumptive arsonist who set fire to the former Morrow Elementary campus earlier this month has potentially altered ongoing negotiations by the St. Landry Parish School District for selling property.
School officials were asked Monday night to delay any attempt to begin a bidding process to complete a sale for the tract of land until giving residents living in the Morrow area a chance to provide input on how the now cleared property could be used.
Board members were told by supervisor Spencer Arnaud that the property, which is uninsured, was appraised in August for $55,0000. That amount is more than a $40,000 appraisal which was performed two years ago, Arnaud said.
Arnaud asked the board for approval to begin accepting bids that would include an 85 percent minimum reflected in the appraisal,
The District has discussed selling the Morrow Elementary property for several years. However the deteriorated condition of the former school building, gym and cafeteria and previously overgrown vegetation surrounding the structures were always obstacles to expediting any intentions of completing a sale.
Board member Bianca Vedell, whose election district includes the Morrow area, said people living in the area near the former school site would like to see the now fire-cleared property used for an unspecified community purpose.
Superintendent Milton Batiste III said the Board has paid for an appraisal requested by board members. Director of Operations Claudia Blanchard added that an advertisement announcing the sale of the property has already been drafted and sent to legal advisor Courtney Joiner for approval.
Parish president Jessie Bellard said parish work crews assisted with handling the fire in addition to cleaning the debris and burned undergrowth.
Bellard, a former Opelousas fire captain, said there is no doubt that the fire which consumed the buildings was set intentionally.
“It appears some sort of liquid was sprayed inside every one of the classrooms. (The parish) was called by the Morrow fire chief to assist with putting the fire out. The building just collapsed and we helped with that and cleaned up the area.
“Whoever set the fire did a good job,” Bellard said.
Bellard said the fire involved an area of approximately 60 by 150 feet.
The Morrow fire represents a continued history of vacant District-owned school buildings that have burned.
Since parish-wide school consolidation was implemented in 1990, former Melville and Lawtell high school buildings, both still insured, were totally destroyed by fires.
Board member Hazel Sias said the Board should solicit community input before proceeding with any attempt to sell the property.
“We should give them the opportunity to see what plans they might have and give us an overall picture of what they want to do with (the property),” said Sias.
Milton Ambres, another board member, said people living in the Morrow area want to see the property used for a community purpose.
“I see no reason why we can’t accommodate them. That property has done nothing for years,” said Ambres.
