MCHS stadium will get $1.1M renovation

CENTERVILLE — Morgan City High’s stadium will get a million-dollar facelift.
The St. Mary Parish School Board on Thursday accepted $1.078 million for renovations at the stadium. The board also approved changes in the school dress code, including the surprisingly complex issue of hoods.
The contract for the stadium work was awarded to GeoSurfaces Inc. of St. Gabriel on the recommendation of the Maintenance District III committee.
The work will include:
—Replacement of railings and fencing to meet safety and Americans With Disability Act standards.
—Nonslip coatings on walkways.
—Replacement of damaged aluminum seating.
—Cleaning and waterproofing the stadium understructure.
—Replacing the fencing around the field.
—Replacing the track’s latex surface with urethane.
Architect Carl A. Blum had presented a renovation plan last year that would have cost $2 million. He returned with a slimmed down proposal that, when replacement of four light poles was included, was expected to cost $1.141 million.
The GeoSurfaces bid was the lowest of four received and was $63,000 less than the pre-bid estimate.
One of the lengthiest discussions at Thursday’s meetings involved whether to allow students to wear hooded clothing.
School Board member Marilyn LaSalle of Patterson brought a School Uniform Committee recommendation that no hoods should be allowed on jackets or sweatshirts because of “ongoing problems with students complying with guidelines for wearing hoods.
Member Lindsey Anslem proposed an exception for K-5 students. She was worried about the clothing children will wear in cold weather.
Superintendent Dr. Buffy Fegenbush made another point.
“If we remove [hoods] from our school uniform policy,” Fegenbush said, “students will take other measures to keep warm that are not covered in our policy, which could be the cause of more concern.”
Member Chad Paradee of Berwick got a laugh when he raised another angle.
“It takes us an hour to get three kids in elementary to get their shoes, book sacks, socks …,” Paradee said. “If you want to put a hat and gloves on them, forget it.”
The board voted to ban hoods on jackets and sweatshirts for grades 6-12, but to allow them for pre-K through fifth grade.