Councilman Kevin in the News

Proposed ban on portable classrooms withdrawnBy Naomi King
Staff Writer
http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20090127/ARTICLES/901279904
Published: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at 3:00 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at 1:40 p.m.

HOUMA — A Terrebonne Parish councilman’s proposal to restrict future portable classrooms on local school campuses sparked heated opposition Monday from School Board members.

One School Board member said it would force overcrowding at schools and restrict the flexibility officials need to deal with population shifts. And most council members denied the issue was even theirs to address.

The discussion was rooted in a proposal by freshman Councilman Kevin Voisin to have members of the parish’s Planning Commission evaluate whether portable classroom trailers — not the sturdier modular buildings — could be prohibited on public and private-school properties.

Voisin ultimately withdrew the request, saying he would accept “the wisdom of my colleagues,” most of whom said his strategy unacceptably crossed into the School Board’s domain.

Voisin said he’s concerned the temporary buildings, meant for short-term and emergency use, are being used in place of permanent classrooms. He said hundreds of constituents he met on the campaign trail this past year voiced the same concerns.

He questioned the safety of portables and why students, such as those at Mulberry Elementary, are taken out of them during thunderstorms.

School Board member Roger Dale DeHart said prohibiting portables would be “devastating.” Though board members want new permanent classrooms, the endeavor would be too expensive and the board would have to ask taxpayers to foot the bill through more taxes, he added.

Because parish government oversees building regulations, Voisin said, the council has the authority to make policies regarding the portables.

Plans to place portables on school property have to be approved by the parish’s Planning Commission under something called a planned-building group. The commission, whose members are appointed by the council, makes recommendations on building issues that ultimately must win council approval before taking effect.

To Voisin, that means the Parish Council has performed the equivalent of approving a trailer park in a neighborhood where it would not be allowed.

“To say we’re crossing a boundary is to forget we approved every one of these,” Voisin said.

Councilwoman Teri Cavalier, a counselor at Evergreen Junior High, said she agrees that portable classrooms should only be used for temporary purposes because after five to 10 years they begin to deteriorate.

That leads to rodents, poor ventilation, sinking and leveling problems and electrical issues, she said.

Having taught for three years in a portable, Cavalier said, she knows that when children are taken out of portables because of stormy weather “it evokes a lot of emotions and problems.”

She suggested DeHart take Voisin’s concerns back to the School Board.

Other council members, however, disagreed.

Councilman Clayton Voisin said the building codes, which regulate how structures are built and the materials used are sufficient in addressing safety issues.

“I have a big problem with it,” said Councilman Clayton Voisin. “We’d be crossing the line.”

Other council members, like Johnny Pizzolatto, said they do not approve of asking planning officials to even evaluate such a proposal.

“Let’s just disapprove it now,” Pizzolatto said. “They don’t cross the line and tell us what to do.”

Staff Writer Naomi King can be reached at 857-2209 or naomi.king@houmatoday.com.