Board rejects pause to reconsider South parish high‑school site; motion to pause fails

Board member Powell Lewis moved — and Board member Powell Lewis seconded — a motion to pause the southern high‑school project in the tax plan and send the proposal to the oversight committee while staff reviewed alternative sites. The motion was defeated after a lengthy discussion in which some trustees cited traffic and safety concerns at the owned Regal Road/Seager Lane site and others argued the board should honor commitments in the tax plan and avoid further delay.

What was proposed: The pause motion would have sent the matter to the tax‑plan oversight committee, required staff to consult a realtor and return with alternative sites for board consideration, and effectively delayed design and construction while options were explored. Supporters cited peak‑traffic congestion near the site and the potential for safety and circulation problems with buses and drop‑offs. Board member Powell Lewis described the intersection as "Spaghetti Junction" at peak times and said a traffic study or alternative location review was prudent.

Opposition and outcome: Opponents noted the district had already purchased the property and the tax plan scheduled the project to begin; they warned that further delay could push construction back by about a year and risk oversight‑committee or legal complications. Board member Rust argued that changing course now could be seen as a material delay of a voter‑approved tax‑plan project. A roll call resulted in the motion failing and the school project remaining on the plan's schedule.

Next steps: Staff said they had not yet entered detailed design and that the project was still in the early planning phase; the board will continue with the previously approved site and timeline unless future motions change course.