Photograph: St. Landry Parish School Board attorney Courtney Joiner handling out finalist ballots to board members Renee Aymond, Bianca Vedell and Robert Gautreaux. (Photograph by Freddie Herpin)
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
If the numbers are accurate, what’s the necessity in proceeding with the selection process still underway for selecting a St. Landry Parish School superintendent?
There appears little drama remaining as School Board members voted 13-0 this week to choose Milton Batiste III as one of two finalists for the superintendent position that was left open April 6.
It’s also costly as the District is now paying for the salaries of two superintendents.
Batiste, an elected representative on the Opelousas Board of Aldermen who works as a student leadership supervisor in the East Baton Rouge School District, was a unanimous choice of board members for one of the applicants interviewed last week.
While Batiste hasn’t receive a dissenting vote during any roll call phase of the selection activities, the other finalist, St. John the Baptist Parish human resources specialist Curt Green received seven of 13 votes as a position finalist Wednesday night.
Green defeated by one vote current Tensas Parish Superintendent Paul Nelson in a runoff for a second finalist spot.
Last Friday when Batiste appeared for his interview, the meeting room at the School District Resource Center was packed to capacity.
During his interview Batiste has maintained that the previous familiarity with all geographical areas of the District as transportation supervisor, principal and teacher has prepared him to step in immediately as superintendent.
Green told board members that one of his strengths has been the ability to reverse academic trends in poor achieving districts that have schools with D and F student performance scores.
Before the voting process on Wednesday night, board members decided to choose from two finalists.
In 2016 the last time the Board selected a superintendent, there were three finalists for the position, as board members narrowly chose Patrick Jenkins over applicants Larry Gray and Francis Touchet.
Despite the currently overwhelming support that the Batiste candidacy has received, board members at this point have decided to prolong the selection procedure at least another two weeks.
During that time, the District will continue paying interim superintendent Dwana Scott a $576 daily stipend to run the daily operational functions normally performed by a selected superintendent.
The amount being paid for an interim superintendent required by state law is the same amount the District is required to pay Jenkins through 30, according to Board Attorney Courtney Joiner.
Scott began her duties as interim superintendent on April 13 following another decision by the Board.
Board member Anthony Standberry said on Friday that Jenkins indicated to board members that he was willing to fulfill the final months of his contract even though the Board voted to place him on paid administrative leave April 6.
According to another Board decision Wednesday night, a superintendent candidate finalist forum is scheduled at the Delta Grand May 8. That event will follow another set of board members’ interviews May 10.
At that event hosted by the St. Landry Parish Economic and Development District and the Chamber of Commerce, Batiste and Green will be introduced publicly and answer questions from the public.
Joiner said on Wednesday night that there is a chance board members could decide to name a superintendent at some point during the May 10 meeting that includes presentations and dialogue from Batiste and Green.
Joiner said the outline of a contract for whoever is named the superintendent has already been prepared should the Board choose a superintendent by May 10.
Standberry said on Friday that withholding a final vote for superintendent until May 10 is almost necessary in order to provide the community with a chance to examine the views of the finalists.
“Selection for the superintendent is always a process and the Board has decided to follow that process. It might seem that it is being held up, but there is a need to provide the economic group a chance to hold the event. We can’t turn our backs on that group, because they are a vital part of the parish,” Standberry said.
An agenda item on the Wednesday night meeting agenda would have allowed the Board to choose a new superintendent, but board members decided instead to work from a list of finalists.
