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St. John the Baptist Parish School Board awards disaster-management contract to Elos Environmental, approves multiple procurement actions
Summary
The board approved a disaster-management contract with Elos Environmental, accepted Change Order #005 (credit $34,237) and approved several procurement actions and vendor contracts, while tabling an auditorium upgrade. One board member abstained from the Elos vote, citing concerns about existing FEMA claims.
At a Feb. 13, 2025 meeting in Reserve, the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board approved several procurement items, including a disaster-management services contract to Elos Environmental and a change order credit for district construction projects.
The board voted to award the disaster-management contract to Elos Environmental after discussion of the district's current FEMA claims. On the motion that eventually passed, the tally was recorded as 7 yeas and 1 abstention; Board Member Nia Mitchell-Williams registered the abstention and said she was "not comfortable with making a major shift" from the incumbent firm because the current company has ongoing familiarity with the district's FEMA claims.
Volkert representative Ryan Smith presented Change Order #005 —covering improvements to West St. John Elementary, Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet, East St. John Prep and Lake Pontchartrain—showing a credit of $34,237. The board approved that change order on a motion by Raydel Morris, seconded by Nia Mitchell-Williams.
The board considered a second change order for upgrades to the West St. John Elementary auditorium (Change Order #006). An initial motion to approve was followed by a substitute motion to refer the item to the Land & Facilities Committee, which failed. A subsequent substitute to table the item passed.
The meeting also authorized administration to advertise for bids for air-conditioning, electrical and plumbing parts and awarded contracts for property insurance (Louisiana Insurance Services) and custodial-equipment service (Efficient Equipment). Several of the procurement motions passed on recorded roll calls; the transcript contains one inconsistent roll-call listing for the air-conditioning authorization (see audit note).
The board's motions and votes were made during the public-business portion of the meeting; the Elos Environmental award passed despite the abstention, and Change Order #006 was tabled for later consideration.
