Lawsuit Over School Construction Bid

    Cangelosi Ward last week filed a lawsuit to prevent competitor Buquet & LeBlanc from signing a contract to build Central’s $5.25 million Ninth Grade Academy.  Buquet’s bid beat Cangelosi’s by $22,000.
PBK Architects, working for the school system, recommended throwing out the bid of Buquet and LeBlanc for lack of a document called for in the bid package.  The Central Community School Board opted to allow the bid on the understanding that the missing document was not required under state law.
    Superintendent Mike Faulk issued the following statement: “At the April 14th board meeting the board awarded the contract for the construction of the Ninth Grade Academy to the apparent low bidder based on the requirements of the public bid law.  An objection and ultimately a suit has been filed by the next lowest bidder.  This matter has been turned over to our attorneys and they are handling the matter from this point forward.  We hope for a quick resolution to this issue so that we may proceed with the project.”
    The matter is slated to be heard by District Judge Wilson Fields.