By DAVID VITRANO

News Editor

RESERVE—Eschewing their usual Thursday evening meeting time, the St. John the Baptist School Board will meet today at 11 a.m. in the Godchaux Grammar Cafeteria.

The reason for the changed meeting time is today ends the bidding on the General Obligation School Bonds, approved in last November’s election, which will fund the districts Educational and Facilities Master Plan.

Among other normal school board business, the board will consider adopting resolutions for the opening and tabulation of the various bids received for $10,000,000 of bonds and for the acceptance of the low bid for the purchase of said bonds.

Coinciding with the business of the bonds, the board also plans to accept proposals from Architectural/Engineering Firms, Geotechnical Firms and Surveying Firms for various construction projects associated with the master plan.

Last week, the board and several other school system administrators along with some members of the local industrial community observed 10 proposals from different firms competing for the school construction projects.

Following the presentations, the selection committee met for discussion and decided upon those firms that will be involved in the renovations and additions to West St. John Elementary, the stadium upgrades and new tracks at the two high schools, renovations to Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet and the construction of playgrounds at the district’s elementary schools.

The official acceptance of the firms selected for these projects will take place at today’s meeting.

The Educational and Facilities Master Plan has been one of the main areas of focus for the St. John school system under the leadership of Superintendent Courtney Millet, who took the reins last April.

She wrote in a letter to board members of the selection of the firms, “To brighten the future of our community, it is our commitment to improve the quality of education and the quality of facilities that foster success. By supplying our students with a quality education and well-maintained facilities, we will be ensuring a higher quality of life for our entire community.”

Among other matters on the agenda for today’s meeting are a request to enter into an agreement with the Union Parish School Board for the procurement of eight school buses, a recommendation on a bid to re-roof East. St. John Elementary School and the acceptance of substantial completion of Emily C. Watkins Elementary.