It’s been a rough couple of months for the Allen Parish School Board, who set out to have a superintendent in place before June 30, but has remained deadlocked in who should lead the district. At Monday’s special meeting, June 26, the board took steps to move the process of naming a superintendent by extending the contract of retiring Kent Reed for 60 days and setting a public hearing for a second round of interviews for its two candidates.
(The board has met on May 8, and voted three times. On May 11, two votes were taken. On May 24, one vote was taken. The June 5, meeting was cancelled. One vote was taken on June 12, and, at the June 13, meeting, an interim superintendent was discussed. Each vote ended with Kenney Courville, the district’s child welfare, attendance and transportation supervisor, being favored by board members Pete Cavenah (District Four), Greg Monceaux (Five), Carolyn Manuel (Six) and Kevin Tyler (Seven). Brad Soileau, the district’s instruction and assessment supervisor, has the support of Sally Moreaux (One), Cathy Farris (Two), Karen Reed (Three) and Carleen Mahaffey (Eight).)
After Attorney Robert L. Hammonds of Baton Rouge suggested extending current Superintendent Reed’s contract for no more than 60 days or select an interim superintendent; Carolyn Manuel motioned to extend his contract for 60 days. By a six-to-two vote, Reed’s contract was extended. Opposition came from members Farris and Moreaux.
Farris objected because she said some board members have coffee with Reed each morning and she believed this practice may create an environment that would not allow the board to move forward in the selection process of a new leader. She even asked Hammonds if he believed this would slow down the process.
Moreaux believed there was no difference between Reed or an interim superintendent.
Manuel, Karen Reed and Mahaffey all agreed it was the time of year when schools needed leadership to be ready to open in August. Manuel added no one could hit the ground running by July 1, so timing was important.
Moreau said she agreed with all that, but she believed Reed had a right to retire.
“I’ve spent 41 years in education before retiring, and I’m telling you the best thing we can do for this parish is to select Reed,” said Karen Reed. She said it could become a nightmare if an interim was chosen when Reed has agreed to stay for the 60 days.
Hammonds, who works exclusively in the field of public school law and is known for his expertise, suggested choosing Reed or an interim and then setting a second interview to see if that could help the board make a decision among the two candidates.
Board president Tyler thanked Reed for staying another 60 days. Then they discussed a public interview of the two candidates and the criteria for notifying both candidates.
In the end, the public can send questions in to the district through its website by July 6. Hammonds will be forwarded all the questions received and choose which ones will be asked in the public meeting. Each board member will have a chance to ask a question. No time limit will be set. It will be done in conjunction with the board’s upcoming regular meeting on Monday, July 10. However, some board members wanted to do the interview process on July 6, and July 13.
