This story is part of The Current’s ongoing investigation into construction projects at LPSS. This in-depth coverage was prompted by violations of public bid law uncovered by the system’s auditors, revealing concerns about procurement practices and oversight at one of the parish’s largest public entities.
In the planning stages since the beginning of 2024, the agricultural barn at Carencro High School was supposed to go up quickly and cheaply. School officials hoped to get students’ animals in by the winter.
But going to bid would add 60 days. So the project was chopped into components to move things along. Avoiding the bid process also meant the selection of a contractor would involve less scrutiny…