By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

RESERVE – At a sparcely attended St. John the Baptist Parish School Board meeting—the board just barely met the quorum requirements with only six members present—the body approved a contract for furniture, fixtures and equipment at West St. John Elementary School.

The Edgard facility, which has been undergoing major renovations since last summer, is expected to unveil its new building along with other major renovations in time for the upcoming school year, and the FFE contract is one of the last steps needed to achieve this.

“We’re trying to get the furniture in in mid-July,” said Project Manager Floyd Luster of the consulting firm CSRS.

He said mid-July was set as a target date because that’s when teachers start to prepare in earnest for the new school year.

Luster said the company that was awarded the contract, KV Workspace, was the only one to submit a bid for the project. The company’s bid of $210,451 was in line with project estimates, according to Luster.

Board President Patrick Sanders expressed concern over the fact only one bid was submitted for the project.

“Were there any specs in here that threw any bidders out?” he asked.

Luster said there were not and assured Sanders the project had been advertised in three different publications and the process met all Louisiana public bid guidelines.

He also noted two companies attended the mandatory pre-bid conference, but only KV submitted a bid.

Ultimately, the board accepted the bid by a vote of six yeas with five members absent. Sanders, however, in giving his assenting vote, said he almost felt as though he were doing so under duress given the fact only one bid was submitted.

When students return to West St. John Elementary School in the fall, they will be greeted by an updated facility, including a new wing and media center and a much-improved gymnasium.

The project is one of the largest in the district’s Educational and Facilities Master Plan.