By CHRISTOPHER LENOIS

RESERVE – The St. John the Baptist Parish School Board recently voted to accept an $850,000 settlement in its lawsuit with Charles Ragusa & Son, Inc.

The board conducted a 15-minute executive session in private Thursday before board member Clarence Triche read aloud the motion to authorize board President Dr. Gerald Keller to sign the agreement and any and all other necessary documents.

The suit stems from construction performed on Fifth Ward Elementary School in 1995, explained school system attorney John Diassellis.

“We felt it was poorly done,” he said.

Board member John Crose voted in opposition to the settlement. He said he was not present at the meeting when the board members had previously discussed accepting it.

“I wish we had taken this to court,” Crose said prior to the vote.

In other business, the school board accepted bids on three construction projects. Hi-Tech Services of Lutcher’s $18,500 bid for the demolition of the classroom building at Woodland School in LaPlace was the lowest of the four submitted; while Gen-Con, Inc. of Vacherie won the contract to replace the sewerage treatment plant for West St. John High School with its bid of $64,580, as well as the $238,344 contract for renovations at West St. John Elementary School. The building, located in the rear of the WSJE campus, will be used to house sixth- and seventh-grade classes, allowing Head Start programs to be placed in the main building.

The board also voted to authorize purchasing agent Peter Montz to solicit for bids and proposals on the following items: fiscal agent, pest control, consignment motor fuel and system, bus parts, copier/computer paper, office supplies, instructional materials, general maintenance, electrical supplies, air conditioning/welding supplies, plumbing supplies, custodial cleaning supplies, locksmith services, award/incentive items, and reconditioned computers.

During Superintendent Michael Coburn’s report, he said state Supreme Court Justice John Weimer is scheduled to visit John L. Ory Magnet School on May 1. Weimer will conduct an interview with sixth-graders for the school’s TV station. Coburn also presented a plaque to Dr. Courtney Millet, principal at LaPlace Elementary School, rewarding her school for collecting the most money of all school sites in the district during the recent United Way fund drive.

The next board meeting will be May 2 at 6 p.m. The public meeting will be held in the Godchaux Grammar Cafeteria.