Southeastern furnishings head to flood-ravaged schools
Monday, November 21, 2016 
by: Rene Abadie
PROPERTY TRANSFER – Heather Collins, an administrative assistant in the Southeastern Office of Student Publications, and Richard Himber, Southeastern director of Purchasing and Property Control, mark filing cabinets to be transferred to flood damaged schools in Livingston and Ascension parishes. The cabinets were just some of the surplus items being transferred to schools in need.
HAMMOND – Surplus equipment and furnishings that once sat crammed in a warehouse at
Southeastern Louisiana University will instead soon arrive to fill the classrooms
of flood-ravaged schools in Livingston and Ascension parishes.
Such items would have usually been recycled in different buildings on campus
until they became worn out and useless. At that point they would be transported to
the Louisiana Property Assistance Agency (LPAA) in Baton Rouge for public auction.
However, creative thinking and the can-do attitude of Southeastern employees and friends
of the university re-routed the items this time to help those educators who suffered
losses when their schools flooded.
It’s a departure from the usual procedure for Richard Himber, Southeastern director
of Purchasing and Property Control, but something he said he was glad to do.
“State law allows transfers of surplus items between agencies; school boards,
however, are quasi-state agencies,” Himber explained. “LPAA is allowing us to transfer
the items to the public schools for a minimal fee, which is being paid by a private
organization.”
In the aftermath of the flooding, Heather Collins of Franklinton, an administrative
assistant in the Southeastern Office of Student Publications, created the Facebook
page “Adopt a Louisiana Teacher,” which allowed teachers to post what they needed
to get their classrooms going again.
“The need was greater than I originally thought,” Collins said.
She then partnered with a friend from her hometown of Franklinton, Louisiana
Federation of Teachers Field Representative Mona Icamina, and together they reached
out to another Franklinton native, Southeastern President John Crain, with an idea.
Due to special circumstances could it be possible to transfer the surplus furnishings
so they could fill classrooms in dire need of provisions rather than be sold at public
auction? LPAA responsed that yes a special transfer could be granted and Southeastern’s
administration signed off on the transfer.
“I’ve known Mona for years and was happy to take her call,” said Crain. “When
she explained their idea, it was a no brainer. Southeastern is thrilled to have another
opportunity to help our regional K-12 partners as they recover.”
With special approval in hand, Collins and Himber scoured the Property Control
warehouse on campus, tagging desks, chairs, tables, media carts, filing cabinets and
other items to be transferred to the schools.
“Usually items kept in surplus are recycled into other departments on campus,
where they will be used until they are no longer useful,” Himber said. “We see the
area schools as extensions of the university, so we’re glad we are able to help.”
Trucks recently arrived to pick up the furnishings and transport them to the
schools in Livingston and Ascension parishes.
“Any state agency can do this,” Collins said, “and we’re hoping others will follow
Southeastern’s example. I am very proud of Southeastern’s commitment to helping rebuild
and heal Louisiana.”
Himber said any state colleges or universities who would like to follow suit
are welcome to contact him at richard.himber@southeastern.edu and he’ll be happy to share the process for securing approval.
