School Board to spend $1 million-plus to replace faulty roof

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School Board to spend $1 million-plus to replace faulty roof

Created: December 16, 2008 07:06 PM

Modified: December 16, 2008 07:27 PM

KTBS - Shreveport,LA,USA

http://www.ktbs.com/news/School-Board-to-spend-1-million-plus-to-

replace-faulty-roof-21844/

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A leaking roof that has caused mold problems at Haughton Middle

School for years will be replaced at an expected cost of more than

$1.5 million -- money on top of another $1 million already spent

this year to get rid of the mold.

The Bossier Parish School Board is scheduled to discuss the project

when it meets on Thursday. That same day, a federal grand jury in

Shreveport could report its findings in a corruption case involving

school system employees and a Bossier City business that has been

paid millions to do air conditioning work at Bossier schools. That

company also got a $1 million, no-bid contract to do the Haughton

mold remediation project -- amid circumstances that are also under

investigation.

The FBI and Bossier Parish sheriff's detectives have been

investigating hundreds of thousands of dollars in suspected bid

rigging, kickbacks and overcharges in air conditioning work at

Bossier schools. They also are looking into whether there was

insider dealing in the decision to award the Haughton mold-

remediation job, according to people who have been interviewed by

law officers.

From the time it opened 10 years ago, Haughton Middle School's roof

leaked and water got into crawl space and ceiling tiles, creating an

environment for mold. School system officials have concluded the

school will need a new roof in order to fix the mold problem.

" We've been working on that roof ever since we built it, " said

Bossier schools Superintendent Ken Kruithof, who is not under

investigation. " We've tried everything that we've known to make sure

it's a safe environment. But in the long run, we know we need to

replace the roof and stop the leaking. "

The School Board has instructed its lawyer to research whether it

can sue the company that installed the roof or whether it's waited

too long to do anything. School Board president Bill Kostelka

declined comment on why the board did not file suit earlier, saying

he did not want to comment while the case is under investigation.

Earlier this year, the school system paid Air Repair of Bossier City

approximately $1 million to do mold remediation work at Haughton

Middle School. It was not hired to fix the roof.

Air Repair is at the center of an investigation into whether some

school system maintenance employees demanded kickbacks in return for

funneling work to the company, which got $6 million worth of air

conditioning work from the school system in the past three years.

Investigators also are looking into whether the bidding process was

rigged to send almost all the work to one company; whether the

parish was overcharged for dozens of air conditioners; and whether

it was paid for work that wasn't done. The investigation also is

looking at misuse of credit cards by maintenance employees. Four

maintenance department employees have been suspended.

The Haughton project, approved by the School Board earlier this year

after a closed-door meeting with school system administrators, was

considered an emergency project when it was awarded, even though the

problem had existed for years. Competitive bidding was not required.

Air Repair had the parish contract to do emergency work and got the

job.

What it didn't have when it got the job was a mold-remediation

license. It got the license the day the work started, the state

board that licenses contractors said.

School Board records show Air Repair had already bought materials

before it got the job, and the FBI and Bossier sheriff's

investigators are investigating to see if school system employees

decided in advance who was going to get the job, said two people who

have been interviewed by investigators.

The Haughton Middle School project was discussed in a closed-door

session because of fears of litigation over the mold problem, School

Board members said.

That air of secrecy does not sit well with Fritts, who has a

daughter at Haughton Middle School.

" These parents need to know about stuff like this. They send notices

out for everything else; why not this? " Fritts said. " These parents

have children that have sinus problems and you have to wonder if

it's from the mold in the school. "

None of the school system employees who have been suspended had the

authority to write a check for air-conditioning work. Investigators

have been interviewing central office staff to track payment

histories.

State auditors are also looking at payment and accounting

procedures. Overpayments are expected to exceed $750,000, said one

person briefed about the audit who spoke on condition he not be

identified. An auditor has been asking questions about the Haughton

project.