School Board keeps options open on superintendent

St. Landy Parish Superintendent Edward Brown’s contract ends Dec. 31, but the School Board isn’t assuring he will stay on the job.
In a 6-5 vote Thursday, the School Board voted against assuring Brown remains on the job until his contract ends.
After the meeting, Brown indicated he isn’t going anywhere.
In April, the School Board voted against extending his three-year contract by another year.
The vote came at a special meeting in which Bob Hammonds, board attorney, outlined how the School Board should proceed in hiring the next superintendent.
The School Board, on a 8-3, vote approved placing the procedures on Thursday’s board meeting agenda.
Board members sparred over the question of Brown being assured of remaining on the job and the speed of the process.
Milton Ambres, an Opelousas board member, said, “I think if were are going to do the search for the superintendent, we need to start now, not wait until next month, next year.”
Ambres said it “imperative” to hire a superintendent before the next school year begins.
Randy Wagley, also an Opelousas board member, said the process should not take any longer than necessary, but added, “It is more important to do it right than to do it fast.”
Donnie Perron, a Port Barre board member, said, “We can begin the process, but we really have a good bit of time. There is no way we can get a superintendent in before the start of school. We don’t need to be trying to rush to do that and we can’t afford to pay two people for the same job. That’s just commonsense.”
Hazel Sias, an Opelousas board member, said, “We made that decision, I think, in April, that we are not going to renew the contract. Here it is in June and we still haven’t started.”
Sunset area board member Kyle Boss introduced a motion asking the board to keep Brown through the end of his contract.
“I want a document from the board that Mr. Brown is going to be here until Dec. 31st,” Boss said.
Boss noted there has been talk about buying out Brown’s contract.
Voting to keep the board’s option open in buying out the contract were Ambres, Sias, Wagley, Albert Hayes, Mary Ellen Donatto and Raymond Cassimere. Voting against were Huey Wyble, Boss, Perron, Candace Gerace and Anthony Standberry.
Boss, Perron and Wyble voted against placed the hiring procedures on Thursday’s agenda.
Board members Roger Young and Charles Ross were absent.
Brown’s base salary is $128,000. He was hired as superintendent in May 2013. He has been employed by the school system for about 42 years with most of those years in Eunice.