East Baton Rouge board has hired new construction management firm

FromThe Baton Rouge Advocate: The East Baton Rouge Parish (La.) School Board has hired a new construction management firm — at a price tag higher than that offered by the old firm — to handle more than $19 million worth of school repairs and improvements made possible by the federal stimulus act. The board approved hiring Volkert & Associates to handle the work. Six other firms also applied for the work, including CSRS/Garrard Program Management, which has overseen most school construction in the parish since 1999. The joint partnership has come under fire from board members who say the firm has failed to do enough to give minority- and women-owned businesses the opportunity to work on construction projects. FEBRUARY 2010...from The Baton Rouge Advocate: The East Baton Rouge (La.) Parish School Board has agreed to look for a construction management firm to handle more than $19 million worth of school repairs and improvements made possible by the federal stimulus act. In seeking outside proposals, Superintendent John Dilworth acquiesced to the wishes of some board members who want outside firms to have a shot at this work. CSRS/Garrard Program Management has overseen most school construction for the district since 1999. The joint partnership has come under increasing fire from some board members who say the firm has through the years failed to do enough to give minority- and women-owned businesses the opportunity to work on construction projects, a contention the firm disputes.