Board authorizes settlement authority and a time-limited extension to pursue insurance claims

The St. John the Baptist Parish School Board convened in executive session Aug. 8 to discuss litigation and strategy in the pending suit Randy Williams v. Elizabeth Blank and the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board (Suit No. C-78822, 40th Judicial District Court).

After returning to open session the board granted settlement authority to Attorney Kyle Celestin, recording a roll-call vote. Separately, the board voted to add an agenda item by unanimous consent, then authorized Attorney Alvarez to seek a six-month extension in insurance negotiations with Sedgwick/AllSouth to pursue outstanding Hurricane Ida payments; if the extension does not produce an acceptable settlement, Alvarez was authorized to file suit on behalf of the board. The motion included a request that Sedgwick and AllSouth provide monthly updates to the board during the extension.

The motions were recorded in the minutes with the stated roll-call tallies. The board did not disclose settlement figures in open session.