School board committee approves multiple bid advertisements for supplies, services and software solicitation

The St. Bernard Parish School Board’s finance committee on March 11 voted to approve multiple permission‑to‑advertise actions covering annual procurements for the coming fiscal year and to send a request for proposals for instructional software to the full board.

Mister Fernandez presented the items and asked for permission to advertise. The committee approved the following requests to go out for bids, with the transcript recording “Motion passes 10” on each item: permission to advertise for an official journal for board advertising; vehicle painting and body repairs; gasoline, diesel and other fluids; paper, cleaning and custodial supplies; and bus parts.

Fernandez also presented a procurement for developmental and intervention software and asked for a three‑year quote (one‑year contract with two optional one‑year renewals) to be solicited through a request for proposals. Miss Carolla described how such software is used for diagnostics and supplemental computer‑based intervention, noting current tools (Lexia for lower levels, Lexia PowerUp for older students, Accelerated Reader and Freckle for certain grades). The committee agreed to send the software RFP to the full board for final action; the transcript shows the motion and a committee vote of 10 in favor.

Why it matters: These approvals authorize the administration to solicit competitive bids or proposals for routine goods and services the district uses across transportation, custodial, curriculum intervention and official advertising. The software RFP is notable because evaluation will use a committee rubric weighing curriculum alignment and fit rather than price alone.

Votes at a glance (finance committee items recorded in the transcript):

- Official journal: motion to advertise for bid — motion passed (10 in favor). - Vehicle painting and body repairs: motion to advertise for bid — motion passed (10 in favor). - Gasoline, diesel and other fluids: motion to advertise for bid — motion passed (10 in favor). - Paper, cleaning and custodial supplies: motion to advertise for bid — motion passed (10 in favor). - Bus parts: motion to advertise for bid — motion passed (10 in favor). - Developmental and intervention software: motion to send request for proposals to the full board — motion passed (10 in favor).

Next steps: The administration will publish bid solicitations and evaluate proposals per district procurement rules. For the software RFP, a review committee will score proposals using an established rubric and make a recommendation to the board.