The final Calcasieu Parish School District project in the path to recovery from Hurricane Laura damage has gone out for bid.
When two destructive hurricanes hit southwest Louisiana in 2020, all 76 Calcasieu Parish School Board schools suffered damage.
Since then, the School Board has been repairing what was estimated to be at least $400 million in damage.
When the rebuild for the DeQuincy High School gym went out for bid on Wednesday, it marked the final project to go to bid from Hurricane Laura damage, according to School Board Chief Operating Officer Robert Barrentine.
"The fact that this is our last project to go out for bid is something that's pretty exciting," Superintendent Jason VanMetre said. "I've only been in this chair a year and some change, but these folks have been fighting this for years and years … So this is pretty exciting."
The DeQuincy High School gym experienced roof damage and warped floors, according to VanMetre.
The gym was the district's only full demolition from Hurricane Laura damage. Demolition was completed on Feb. 18, and now there is a concrete slab waiting for the construction to begin.
"(The bid) process takes a month or so, and then they'll get together and start pre construction talks once we pick a contractor," Barrentine said. "Then at that point, I guess we'll have a ballpark when it might be done."
The project is estimated to cost $8.5 million, which will be funded entirely by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
"Full demolitions and rebuilds are much more horrific FEMA-wise in terms of paperwork and reimbursement and things like that," VanMetre said. "It's been a long time coming up there, but we're really excited."