LAPLACE — Work is expected to begin next month at East St. John Elementary, which has been shuttered since a fire tore through the school in August of 2015.

St. John the Baptist Parish School Board members voted 10-1 last week to award the construction project to Pintail Contracting Services for $8.725 million.

The construction timeline, which also includes demolition and renovation components, calls for students to return to the campus off Airline Highway in August of 2018.

The school’s student body, which includes kindergartners through eighth graders, has been attending classes at the former Leon Godchaux Junior High campus since the blaze.

Z. Ames Yeates of Yeates and Yeates Architects said the project is complicated but includes “no frills.”

Originally instructed by District officials to design a project in the $7.7 million range, Yeates said additions of a performance stage, special education classrooms, HVAC tonnage and maintenance agreement added to the job’s cost.

Environmental concerns and vandalism response also added to the cost.

Purchasing Agent Director Peter Montz said the District will have approximately $700,000 remaining from a $10.7 million insurance settlement once all expenses for the new school are taken into account.

Yeates faced a series of tough questions from School Board Member Albert Burl last week concerning the final construction cost, with Burl adamant that School Board members did not approve any cost additions.

“It’s going to be hard for us to push this (proposed sales tax in December) and now you’re telling me we have a project that we specifically said we wanted to come in at $7.7 million,” he said. “You’re the architect, you were supposed to design the building, you’re supposed to know how much every screw is going to cost. Why did you not notify the Board or the Land and Facilities Committee that this could come up over bid?”

Yeates said architects participated in numerous status meetings with District officials, who directed his firm on project components.

Burl, who represents District 2, voted against the contract’s awarding to Pintail Contracting, which is based in Luling.