Bad weather, including freezing days and rain, caused delays for the construction of Salmen High School which could have jeopardize the school’s opening this coming school year.

Instead, the St. Tammany Parish School Board Committee as a whole for business affairs and administrative meeting voted unanimously to support an initiative to accelerate work. The additional costs would be absorbed by both the school board and the contractors to ensure the completion of the school to open on time for the 2010-11 school year.

The cost will be $233,500 to the school board with the contractor matching that cost. Grant funding may be available to help offset the costs. Construction supervisor Cameron Tipton said the wettest month on record, December, really put the project behind, especially in building the ramps, elevated walkways and concrete stairs. Additional workers and longer hours will be utilized to accelerate the project. Also approved by the committee were acceptance of the low bid submitted by Morgan roofing of $186,500 for partial roof replacement of Northshore High; rejection of lowest bidder Rowell Roofing due to lack of documentation in the bid and awarding instead to Certified Roofing and Sheet Metal for $226,234 the reroofing of Covington High School main building; and the selection of MSH Architects for the early childhood center at Abney Elementary.

“Going from good to great and green too” was the subject of the presentation of energy efficiency presented by Dr. John Swang. The energy STAR system in use for the past few years has saved the school board $5,375,487 in energy costs. One of only 11 school districts in the country, St. Tammany has won the designation of the Leaders 20 percent Improvement Award.

“The school board’s use of electricity is more efficient than 83 percent of the buildings in the country,” said Swang. He said that not only has the program saved the school system money, but it has changed attitudes, values, beliefs and behavior toward energy saving. The award shows the school board has reached a 20 percent savings and efficiency across all buildings.

The committee also accepted all reports including construction, maintenance and custodial, risk management, transportation and purchasing.