By DAVID VITRANO

News Editor

RESERVE—For the first time since the 1970s, St. John the Baptist public schools will have someone new mowing the lawns.

The board accepted a bid from Cypress Land Management to take care of school grounds at a price of $201,718.68.

When a vote was taken, the only vote against accepting the bid came from School Board President Gerald Keller. After the motion passed he noted that by seeking out bids, the board had cost St. John taxpayers an additional $15,000.

According to Keller, the parish’s usual groundskeeping company, Guidry’s Industrial Services, originally approached the board with a request for a contract totaling almost $185,000 for the 2008-2009 school year. As this represented a 7 percent increase over the previous year’s contract, the board decided to accept bids from other groundskeeping companies.

“Some of the board members thought they would receive a better price,” said Keller.

Ultimately, the board received bids from three companies, Cypress, Roussel, whose bid was the highest at $293, 832, and Guidry, whose bid by this time had risen to $204, 820.44.

During the course of the proceedings, Board Member Russell Jack inquired of Cypress Owner Keith Lesser, who was present, as to his willingness to employ minority subcontractors.

Lesser replied, “My intention is to employ St. John residents.”