Thursday meeting to talk about insurance, new buses

By JOHN HOWARD

Staff Reporter

RESERVE – The School Board will be meeting Thursday to discuss, among other things, the issue of workers’ compensation insurance.

Currently, the board insures school employees. The board has a pool of money set aside for workers’ insurance and a new insurance proposal will be brought before the board for the 2007-2008 school year.

Also on the agenda, the board is scheduled to rule on a recommendation of a new policy on the assignment of school buses.

Currently, a seniority rule is in effect.

According to board President Gerald Keller, the bus drivers who have been in the system the longest would get the newer buses. Whereas, new drivers would get the older buses.

However, if a senior bus driver has recently received a new bus he or she wouldn’t be a candidate for a new bus this year.

Also this afternoon at 4 p.m., there will be a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Emily C. Watkins Elementary School in LaPlace. Overpopulation of St. John schools prompted the building of the new school.

The St. John School Board will be there as well as AEGIS Construction who won the bid for construction of the school at the August 16 meeting.

The school will be located off of River Road between McReine Road and Walnut Street in LaPlace and is expected to be operational for the 2008-2009 school year.