Martin to fill Richard vacancy

The Terrebonne Parish School Board unanimously appointed assistant superintendent Philip Martin as interim superintendent effective Jan. 1, 2009.

The board also formally accepted the retirement of outgoing superintendent Ed Richard Jr., which is effective Dec. 31.

“These are some big shoes to fill. I know that, but I will work hard to push the district forward,” Martin told the board. “I’m very proud of our accomplishments, and I hope to further those accomplishments.”

Martin is a 35-year employee of the parish school system. Prior to his eight years as assistant superintendent, he was a teacher, assistant principal, principal and secondary supervisor.

“I started at the bottom and worked my way to the top,” he noted.

Board members said the move was made to keep continuity in the school district office until a permanent selection is made next year.

“I think it’s the prudent thing to do,” said board member Greg Harding. “I don’t think there is anybody else right now who can pick up the torch Mr. Richard is passing on to move this district forward.”

“The public has expressed concern about disrupting the system,” said board member Roosevelt Thomas. “With us taking action now, the school system will continue to operate smoothly at least for the rest of the school year.”

Martin will serve the remainder of Richard’s term, which expires June 30, 2009.

Martin said he would not implement any long-term plans; however, one issue will get his attention starting in February.

“The most looming thing is the budget,” he said. “It’s coming around the corner. That’s the road map that we lay out for the upcoming school year. Obviously, that will be the top priority.”

Martin also said he would retain some of his responsibilities as assistant superintendent, while delegating others to his support staff.

As assistant superintendent, Martin is in charge of school curriculum and instruction.

The board will next turn its attention to advertising the superintendent position. It must pass a motion directing the personnel department to post the job, which the board has yet to do.

According to the board’s attorney, Berwick Duval, state law requires that the position be advertised a series of times in a local paper for a minimum of two weeks and at least once in a regional paper such as the (New Orleans) Times Picayune.

Board members said they encouraged all qualified applicants to seek the position, but one member set a parameter for potential candidates.

“I’m a board member that’s not going to support moving or travel expenses,” said Roger Dale DeHart. “I was here when we did that one time and that’s one time too many.”

Martin said he would apply to be the permanent superintendent.

In the meantime, he will be busy running the school system and heading the efforts to improve scores on various upcoming tests in his interim term – National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), Louisiana Educational Assessment Program (LEAP) and the Graduate Exit Examination (GEE).

“Student achievement is always our front burner issue – always has been and always will be,” he said. “I do have some goals I want to reach with that, but six months won’t be enough time to get to that. Rome wasn’t built in one day, so we’re going to do it one brick at a time.”