Board awards LaPlace Elementary gym contract and approves amendment to project-management contract

The St. John the Baptist Parish School Board voted Aug. 22 to award the lowest responsive bidder for the new LaPlace Elementary School gymnasium to Brunt Construction and approved an amendment to the district's project-management contract with Volkert.

During discussion, Mr. Burl asked whether the contractor currently building Emily C. Watkins Gymnasium was the same firm and suggested verifying procurement legality if materials were being purchased for multiple sites. Mr. Ryan Smith confirmed the contractor match; the board approved the award with a 10-0 roll-call vote (one member absent).

The board also approved an amendment to Volkert's contract for project management of capital bond projects. Mr. Morris asked for written confirmation that Volkert would remain to complete all projects without charging additional fees beyond the contract expiration. Board counsel Keith Green said he had assisted in drafting the amendment; the motion to approve the amendment passed 10-0 (one absent).

The approvals were recorded in the minutes as formal motions with roll-call tallies. The minutes do not attach the full wording of Volkert's amended agreement, and the board requested follow-up documentation to confirm any commitments from the contractor. No specific dollar amounts for the Brunt Construction bid or the Volkert amendment were stated in the meeting minutes available in the record.