By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

LUTCHER – The St. James Parish School Board recently accepted a bid for additions to Gramercy Elementary School.

The project was awarded to Patin Construction Group of Gonzales for $1.48 million. The company previously worked on projects at Sixth Ward Elementary.

The opening of the bids was originally scheduled for early April but was pushed back to April 20 after voters in St. James approved a proposition giving the district permission to seek $20 million in fund bonds. The bonds for this project will likely be interest-free QSCB Bonds, but in order to qualify for them, the district must follow the federal pay scale. To give bidders a chance to take this into account, the bid opening was delayed.

In all the district received 10 bids, and Luce thought the sheer number of bidders helped keep the process competitive.

“We felt blessed that the bids came in below what we estimated,” said Luce.

The project at Gramercy Elementary includes the construction of six new classrooms and the addition of a drive-through tailored for the pick up and drop off of students.

The School Board and district administration delivered somewhat of a shock to residents of the west bank when they approved personnel changes including the involuntary transfer of St. James High School athletic director and head football coach Rick Gaille and the non-renewal of the contract of St. James High School Principal Harry Francois.

According to Luce, however, the decision should not have come as a surprise to the two affected men.

“They both knew,” said Luce.

Of the Gaille decision, he added, “He was set to retire, and it was just a matter of timing. It just made sense.”

He said the central office has received very little feedback from the public since the decision.

Both positions are currently posted online at the Teach Louisiana website.

Luce declined to comment further on the matter.

Lastly, the board approved a motion to move the next regular meeting of the board from Tuesday, May 10, to Thursday, May 12. It will be held at 6 p.m.