Flood-prone middle school will be replaced in Louisiana district

From The Houma Courier: The Terrebonne Parish (La.) School Board has approved construction of a new middle school building. The 57,953-square-foot, two-story building in Houma is expected to be completed by 2014 and will serve about 450 students in grades 5 to 8. The old school, Caillou Middle, has experienced repeated flooding and serves grades 6 to 8. Construction will cost more than $15.7 million. The project's price tag is higher than the $12 million school officials originally estimated because of efforts to lessen flood risk. The bottom floor is built up a few feet so it sits 10 feet above sea level.