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LAPLACE — During Saturday’s special election, St. John the Baptist Parish voters approved the funding of numerous capital improvement projects in the St. John the Baptist Parish Public School System.

Seventy-six percent of voters (952 votes) said “yes” to Parishwide School District Bond Proposition No. 1. Twenty-four percent (293) voted “no.”

The unofficial turnout was 4.2%.

This approval authorizes the School District to issue up to $58 million in bonds to be used solely for capital improvement projects that were selected with input from school leaders and community members.

School Board President Nia Mitchell-Williams said this proposition will not increase taxes. The district currently levies 11 mills and anticipates to continue to levy 11 mills in property taxes for general obligation bonds.

Community forums were held at each school site to generate the following capital improvement/ construction projects, all of which will be funded through the bond issue:

• Classroom technology updates – ActivPanels in all classrooms
• Update interior/exterior lighting districtwide
• Restroom upgrades districtwide
• Install new playground at West St. John Elementary for HeadStart and younger elementary students
• Create STEM labs at both high schools
• Performing Arts auditorium upgrades at John L. Ory and West St. John Elementary
• John L. Ory – Car rider pick-up and drop-off improvements & playground
• Two gymnasiums – LaPlace Elementary and Emily C. Watkins Elementary
• West St. John High upgrades to locker rooms at Dinvaut Stadium
• Stadium field house at West St. John High
• East St. John High and West St. John High gymnasium floor upgrade/ replacement
• Four new scoreboards – ESJ and WSJ baseball and softball fields
• HVAC upgrades – districtwide
• HVAC replacement at Emily C. Watkins
• Roof replacement at East St. John, John L. Ory, Emily C. Watkins and West St. John Elementary
• Water sewer upgrades at all sites (lift stations and backflow preventers)
• Football stadium sound system upgrades at both high schools
• Visitor side seating upgrades at Joe Keller Stadium
• Hurricane Ida damages shortfall (not covered by insurance of FEMA)
• Deferred maintenance and code upgrades – districtwide upgrades and repairs to HVAC systems, roofs, restrooms, drainage and site conditions, including ADA accessibility