LPPS Holds Groundbreaking & Brick Breaking

Livingston Schools Hold Groundbreaking & “Brick Breaking” on New Construction Projects
Posted on 10/18/2022
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Livingston Schools Hold Groundbreaking & “Brick Breaking” on New Construction Projects
District to Construct New STEM Center in Watson, New Cafeteria in Albany


LIVINGSTON, La. – Livingston Parish School officials recently traveled from one side of Livingston Parish to the other to hold ceremonies at two campuses to commemorate the start of construction for new facilities.
A groundbreaking for the new Live Oak High School Institute of Medicine, Aviation & the Arts in the Watson community was held on the school’s grounds on Oct. 5, while a “brick breaking” for a new cafeteria for Albany Lower Elementary and Albany Upper Elementary, located in the Town of Albany, was held at the existing cafeteria site on Oct. 10.

“It’s exciting to see the plans we have for addressing needs in our district are becoming reality,” Superintendent Joe Murphy said. “The needs that are being met by these two projects demonstrate the broad spectrum of care provided to our students. Livingston Schools is committed to meeting the needs of the whole child – from providing daily nutrition to expanded opportunities for learning.”

Live Oak High School Principal Beth Jones said the new institute on her campus will focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) learning areas that offer introductory material in the fields of medicine, aviation, and the arts. Jones said the new institute will be named for the district’s current Career & Technical Education Coordinator Staci Polozola.

Watson area school board member Kellee Dickerson thanked school officials and Gasaway, Gasaway, Bankston Architects for also designing a new façade for the high school, which will be erected during the construction of the new STEM building. Stuart & Company General Contractors, LLC, will oversee construction.
Albany school board member Dr. Devin Gregoire welcomed school officials and staff to break a portion of the brick wall supporting the current cafeteria for the two Albany elementary campuses to commemorate the construction of a new larger cafeteria for the two schools.

“Right now, the scheduled lunch times for these schools must begin very early I order to give all the students access the cafeteria. By expanding the facility, we will be able to create a rotation schedule that better accommodates their day. At the same time, we will give our child nutrition staff an updated, modern workspace,” Gregoire said.

He noted that the new cafeteria will be constructed with funds gained from a newly approved half-cent sales tax in the Albany School District. Voters approved the funding measure earlier this year.
Gasaway, Gasaway, Bankston Architects is designing the project and John Blount Contractors will oversee construction.

Livingston Parish School Board Member Kellee Dickerson spoke to a gathering of school officials, students, teachers and Watson community members who gathered on Oct. 5 for a groundbreaking ceremony commemorating the start of construction for Live Oak High School’s Institute of Medicine, Aviation & the Arts.    Those participating in the groundbreaking for the new LOHS Institute of Medicine, Aviation & the Arts were, pictured left to right, Duane Mizell of Stuart & Company General Contractors, Chris Bankston of Gasaway, Gasaway, Bankston Architects; Monica Perez of Gasaway, Gasaway, Bankston Architects, Livingston Parish School Board Member Kellee Hennessy Dickerson, LOHS Student Sylvia White, LOHS Principal Beth Jones, Assistant Superintendent Jody Purvis, Superintendent Joe Murphy, and Assistant Superintendent Bruce Chaffin.  Those participating in the groundbreaking for the new LOHS Institute of Medicine, Aviation & the Arts were, pictured left to right, Duane Mizell of Stuart & Company General Contractors, Chris Bankston of Gasaway, Gasaway, Bankston Architects; Monica Perez of Gasaway, Gasaway, Bankston Architects, Livingston Parish School Board Member Kellee Hennessy Dickerson, LOHS Student Sylvia White, LOHS Principal Beth Jones, Assistant Superintendent Jody Purvis, Superintendent Joe Murphy, and Assistant Superintendent Bruce Chaffin.
Livingston Parish School Board Member Kellee Dickerson spoke to a gathering of school officials, students, teachers and Watson community members who gathered on Oct. 5 for a groundbreaking ceremony commemorating the start of construction for Live Oak High School’s Institute of Medicine, Aviation & the Arts.  Those participating in the groundbreaking for the new LOHS Institute of Medicine, Aviation & the Arts were, pictured left to right, Duane Mizell of Stuart & Company General Contractors, Chris Bankston of Gasaway, Gasaway, Bankston Architects; Monica Perez of Gasaway, Gasaway, Bankston Architects, Livingston Parish School Board Member Kellee Hennessy Dickerson, LOHS Student Sylvia White, LOHS Principal Beth Jones, Assistant Superintendent Jody Purvis, Superintendent Joe Murphy, and Assistant Superintendent Bruce Chaffin.

Food service technicians who work in the school cafeteria that serves students at Albany Lower Elementary and Albany Upper Elementary gathered for the on-site ceremony announcing the construction of a new, larger cafeteria for the two schools.  Pictured from left to right are: Crystal Stewart, Sandra Caldwell, Rachell Moriarity, Tandra Arbour, Jenny Bertrand, Jodie Clark, Chloe Guidry, Lynnette Glascock, and Bonnie DiGiovanni.

 

  


 
 School Board Member Dr. Devin Gregoire breaks bricks on the existing cafeteria servicing Albany Lower Elementary and Albany Upper Elementary to commemorate the construction of a new, larger cafeteria for the two campuses. Albany School Food Technician Crystal Stewart breaks bricks on the existing cafeteria servicing Albany Lower Elementary and Albany Upper Elementary to commemorate the construction of a new, larger cafeteria for the two campuses.  Superintendent Joe Murphy breaks bricks on the existing cafeteria servicing Albany Lower Elementary and Albany Upper Elementary to commemorate the construction of a new, larger cafeteria for the two campuses. 
 School Board Member Dr. Devin Gregoire breaks bricks on the existing cafeteria servicing Albany Lower Elementary and Albany Upper Elementary to commemorate the construction of a new, larger cafeteria for the two campuses. Albany School Food Technician Crystal Stewart breaks bricks on the existing cafeteria servicing Albany Lower Elementary and Albany Upper Elementary to commemorate the construction of a new, larger cafeteria for the two campuses.  Superintendent Joe Murphy breaks bricks on the existing cafeteria servicing Albany Lower Elementary and Albany Upper Elementary to commemorate the construction of a new, larger cafeteria for the two campuses. 
 Director of Child Nutrition Programs Sommer Purvis speaks to school officials, cafeteria workers, staff and students who attend Albany Lower Elementary and Albany Upper Elementary during a ceremony to commemorate the construction of a new larger cafeteria for the two schools.  Purvis noted that her mother, she, and her son all came through the food service line at the existing facility during their years at the local school.  Those school leaders and construction officials participating in the “brick breaking” ceremony for the new cafeteria at Albany Lower Elementary and Albany Upper Elementary schools included, from left to right: School Board Member Bo Graham, Architect Chris Bankston, Maintenance Director and Albany Town Alderman Jeremy Glascock, School Board members Jan Benton and Cecil Harris, Assistant Superintendents Bruce Chaffin and Jody Purvis, School Board Member Dr. Devin Gregoire, Superintendent Joe Murphy, Albany Upper Elementary Principal Jo Jean Saucier, Albany Lower Elementary Principal Robin Stewart, Director of Child Nutrition Programs Sommer Purvis, and Contractor John Blount.  The school food technicians who work at the cafeteria for Albany Lower Elementary and Albany Upper Elementary participated in the “brick breaking” ceremony to commemorate the construction of a new larger cafeteria.  Pictured from left to right are: Food Technicians Jodie Clark, Chloe Guidry and Rachell Moriarty, School Board Member Dr. Devin Gregoire, Albany Upper Elementary Principal Jo Jean Saucier, Food Technicians Sandra Caldwell and Tandra Arbour, Director of Child Nutrition Programs Sommer Purvis, Food Technician Crystal Stewart, Albany Lower Elementary Principal Robin Stewart, and Food Technicians Jenny Bertrand, Lynnette Glascock, Larrilyn Owens, and Bonnie DiGiovanni.
Director of Child Nutrition Programs Sommer Purvis speaks to school officials, cafeteria workers, staff and students who attend Albany Lower Elementary and Albany Upper Elementary during a ceremony to commemorate the construction of a new larger cafeteria for the two schools.  Purvis noted that her mother, she, and her son all came through the food service line at the existing facility during their years at the local school.  The school food technicians who work at the cafeteria for Albany Lower Elementary and Albany Upper Elementary participated in the “brick breaking” ceremony to commemorate the construction of a new larger cafeteria.  Pictured from left to right are: Food Technicians Jodie Clark, Chloe Guidry and Rachell Moriarty, School Board Member Dr. Devin Gregoire, Albany Upper Elementary Principal Jo Jean Saucier, Food Technicians Sandra Caldwell and Tandra Arbour, Director of Child Nutrition Programs Sommer Purvis, Food Technician Crystal Stewart, Albany Lower Elementary Principal Robin Stewart, and Food Technicians Jenny Bertrand, Lynnette Glascock, Larrilyn Owens, and Bonnie DiGiovanni. 

The school food technicians who work at the cafeteria for Albany Lower Elementary and Albany Upper Elementary participated in the “brick breaking” ceremony to commemorate the construction of a new larger cafeteria.  Pictured from left to right are: Food Technicians Jodie Clark, Chloe Guidry and Rachell Moriarty, School Board Member Dr. Devin Gregoire, Albany Upper Elementary Principal Jo Jean Saucier, Food Technicians Sandra Caldwell and Tandra Arbour, Director of Child Nutrition Programs Sommer Purvis, Food Technician Crystal Stewart, Albany Lower Elementary Principal Robin Stewart, and Food Technicians Jenny Bertrand, Lynnette Glascock, Larrilyn Owens, and Bonnie DiGiovanni.