School Board to consider 20-year White Lake coastal-work agreement

The Vermilion Parish School Board will consider an agreement giving the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority coastal-work access to school lands for a term of 20 years, under item C8 of its October 21 agenda, checked October 19, 2026. The proposed agreement covers the White Lake Shoreline and Levee Stabilization Project, ME-0040, and sets conditions for continued use of the land.

The proposed resolution attached to the agenda would authorize Superintendent Thomas Byler to execute the agreement for the Board. The attached agreement has blank signature fields. Under clause XI, its term would begin on the date of the State’s signature and continue for 20 years unless the State releases it sooner. Agreement, checked October 19

Work rights and continued use

The proposed agreement’s opening description identifies school-land interests in Section 16, Township 13 South, Range 2 West, in Vermilion Parish. Clause I and Exhibit B describe rights for construction, operation, monitoring and maintenance. Listed activities include removing water-control structures, placing sediment, improving channels and planting vegetation on overflow banks.

Exhibit B also includes rights to flood or submerge the land and deposit dredged material. Its terms require the Board’s approval of the location and method before excavation or landfill placement. Those are proposed work rights in the attached agreement. Exhibit B, checked October 19

Clause II would require reasonable notice to the Board or its agent before project access begins. Clause IV makes the State responsible for restoring fences, bridges, roads and similar facilities damaged by its activities to their previous condition, and for removing project debris. Agreement, clauses II and IV

Clause VI says the Board would retain its existing property rights, subject to the State’s project rights, with minerals unaffected. Clause VII protects existing or authorized farming, hunting, trapping, fishing and other listed uses from unreasonable interference by the State. It also preserves continued use by the Board and its lessees, with a reciprocal condition that their use must not unreasonably interfere with lawful project activities. Agreement, clauses VI–VII

The October 21 agenda schedules the meeting for 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Charles Campbell Curriculum Center board room, 216 S. Jefferson St., Abbeville.