School board approves renegotiation with Volkert to set aside $15 million for Hurricane Ida costs

At its Feb. 8 meeting, the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board voted to approve renegotiation of the Volkert contract to set aside $15,000,000 to cover Hurricane Ida-related costs and to renegotiate terms to address loss of interest.

The item was presented as a motion by Mr. Morris and seconded by Mrs. Holden. The motion carried with nine board members voting yes, one member (Burl) voting no, and one member absent. Mr. Burl asked that the record reflect his objection specifically to removing the $15,000,000 from bond money rather than to the renegotiation itself.

No detailed amendment text or revised contract language was read into the record at the meeting; the motion authorized renegotiation and the set-aside amount. The board did not specify an effective date for revised terms beyond approving the direction to renegotiate. The motion did not include a change in vendor; it directed administration to renegotiate terms with Volkert and to address the loss of interest.

Board members and public commenters did not record additional funding-source alternatives in the motion debate; the transcript notes the objection regarding the source of the $15 million but does not record a formal amendment or an alternative funding plan. Further negotiation and any resulting contract documents will be subject to administrative processing and potential future board review.