By LEONARD GRAY

LULING – A collection of change orders for construction projects were unanimously approved recently by the St. Charles Parish School Board. Yet the changes on the total price tag comes to less than 3 percent over budget and well within acceptable standards, Superintendent Dr. Rodney Lafon said.

The St. Rose Elementary School projects received the most attention, for such items as fire rating partitions and a new $69,325 sewer system.

The Fire Marshal revisions, which came out of an inspection of the administrative, cafeteria and library building, came to a total of $7,585.

Other change orders included adding $20,756 to the St. Rose Elementary project for added support for a folding partition, relocating a mezzanine column and improving the loading quality at the front entrance. An additional $1,100 is going toward foundation changes for the electrical switch gear at the school.

Also, at J.B. Martin Middle School in Paradis, three bids were accepted for the office renovation work, and the low bid of $81,209 came from Richard Owens Construction Co. of Metairie.

The unsuccessful bidders included Payne Construction and L.C. Zeringue Builders, both of Norco.

In other activity, the board approved borrowing $2,085,000 to participate in the Energy Fund Program of the Department of Natural Resources, to add water conservation facilities at several schools, much of which will pay for itself within seven years through lower utility bills.

In another construction matter, a settlement agreement was reached for the construction of the New Sarpy kindergarten administrative office.

The original contractor had gone out of business and Cumberland Casualty and Surety had come in to make sure the project was completed.

The settlement included a payment of $43,697.20 to the insurance company, Lafon said. The job is complete.