The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board on July 10 approved a Proposition 1 budget supplement of $29,637,880.96 to fund HVAC maintenance and related services and later awarded three professional services contracts to providers for HVAC facility maintenance.

Board members discussed whether the supplement represented a one-time or ongoing commitment. A board member asked whether the funding was recurring; staff responded the amount is intended to ensure funding is available through the end of 2029.

The board later approved three contracts to provide facility HVAC maintenance: ENFRAMM C LLC for $1,702,392; Corporate Mechanical Contractors Inc. for $1,803,444; and Star Service Inc. of Baton Rouge for $4,542,900. District staff told the board some of the increased funds will be used for equipment replacement when necessary, not only for routine service.

Board members said the contracts address immediate maintenance needs but flagged that some buildings likely require one-time capital investments to replace repeatedly failing units. Staff acknowledged those capital replacements may be required in addition to ongoing maintenance and said the approved contracts will allow vendors to perform replacements where appropriate.

A motion to approve the Proposition 1 budget supplement and to award the listed HVAC contracts carried on recorded votes.