Together, Everything is Possible

St. Bernard Parish

The Paragon Project is an outreach program of the CEFPI Foundation dedicated to help support school districts improve the built learning environment for students, staff and the communities that they serve. Relevance and relationships are key to the rebuilding of St. Bernard Parish Schools situated in a community with spirit second to none. Under the leadership of Doris Votier, superintendent , St. Bernard Parish never gave up. Votier received the 2007 John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage Award for her work in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Immediately following the hurricane, Chris Pellegrin, CSRS, Inc.; Irene Nigaglioni, AIA, REFP, PBK Architects and Katrina-Rita Task Force chair; CEFPI's Southern Region and others formed a volunteer team of architects, planners, engineers, contractors, educators and suppliers to perform a facility assessment on the damage to Lacoste Elementary School, and help district officials develop plans for the school's reconstruction. Hurricane Katrina, one of the costliest and deadliest hurricanes in American history, destroyed virtually every structure in the parish and left 67,000 residents homeless. The St. Bernard Parish Public Schools had 8,800 students before the storm in 2005, with current enrollment about 3800.

"Never before in history has an entire school district been destroyed by a storm," said St. Bernard School District assistant superintendent Beverly Lawrason. "For people to come forward and lend a helping hand is more meaningful than words can describe. It not only helps us provide an education for our children, it also helps us take a giant leap toward bringing our community back."

CEFPI Foundation Board member Scot Bini, URS, Paragon project manager has worked diligently with Michael Lachin, Lachin, Oeubre & Associates in identifying the needs and creating plans for Lacoste/Chalmette School and Field House to be delivered for occupancy by August of 2009. The Paragon Project's scope of work consists of a charitable donation of expertise, intellectual assistance, financial support and products and materials to be installed at the Lacoste Elementary School and Field House.

Thank you to the very generous donations of CEFPI industry partners and member firms, the new Lacoste Field House will include gymnasium and swimming facilities that will be shared with the entire community. The St Bernard Parish requires all students to be proficient in swimming. To that end, all second grade students are enrolled in swimming classes. Truly, this initiative probably saved many lives with the horrific flooding that occurred during Hurricane Katrina. The gymnasium will also accommodate basketball and volleyball courts, practice courts, locker rooms, offices and classrooms.

Thank you for your generosity and commitment to the students and families in St Bernard Parish!

Field House
Audio Enhancement
Covermaster
Mondo
Meeks Technologies
Nora
Sika Sarnafil, Inc.
Future Cultural Center
Bretford
Stonhard
Tandus

We continue to believe that our children and the communities where they live are our first priority. Please join us in this incredible effort by donating the necessary materials and resources to ensure a very happy year for the St. Bernard Parish Public Schools! After all, this is where great schools begin.

Your involvement with the Paragon Schoolhouse Project, however great or small, will make a profound difference in the lives of the children and community members of St. Bernard Parish.