DANIEL TYLER GOODEN / L’Observateur / November 22, 2000

ROMEVILLE – The Louisiana Board of Health is nudging the St James SchoolSystem to finish up its Romeville Elementary School renovations.

The school was completely reroofed and given new air conditioning systemsover the summer. Inside, insulation and new ceilings were added to sectionsof the school.

Though the majority of the work was completed before the beginning of theschool year, sections of the kitchen were unfinished due to the cost seeminghigh. Gallo Mechanical, the contractor hired for the repairs, was requested tofind a sub contractor with a lower cost in renovating the ceiling, dishwasherand general kitchen area. The board of health was patient in waiting for the repairs, said Ted Beaullieu,St. James School System consulting architect. Now the health department ispushing to get everything finished up. They basically said “get it done and getit done now,” said Beaullieu.

The problem in the kitchen ceiling is a “non-cleanable surface,” which thehealth inspector deems difficult to clean, said Beaullieu. Gallo is currentlysearching for a sub-contractor who can replace the ceilings with a suspendedceiling, which would accommodate the inspector. The school system hassecured another quote themselves and was scheduled to meet with Gallo andothers on Monday to figure out the next step.

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