School board declares three buses surplus, awards construction contract and extends maintenance deal

At its Aug. 8 meeting the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board declared three district buses surplus and approved a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement to donate them to the St. John the Baptist Fire Department for training use.

Transportation Supervisor Anthony Miller told the board the fire department would provide in-kind services — fire-risk assessments and fire-safety training for staff and students — in return for the three decommissioned buses (Nos. 15, 23 and 47). The motion to declare the vehicles surplus and enter the donation agreement carried unanimously.

In other facilities business, the board voted to extend the Gallo lift station/backflow-preventer maintenance contract for one year at a cost of $36,647. The motion passed on recorded roll call.

The board also approved awarding a contract for improvements at Emily C. Watkins, Gray Middle (GMMS), Lake Pontchartrain Elementary (LPE) and East St. John Primary to Stalling Construction in the amount of $3,987,000 (plus alternate $21,700), as recommended by administration. The motion carried with the recorded votes showing unanimous approval.

Finally the board approved a value-engineering change directive for the Emily C. Watkins security and gym project; administration said the change reflects cost-saving value engineering measures.

Each motion was recorded in the official minutes with roll-call tallies as presented.