Terrebonne school superintendent on his way out

Despite the support of several teachers and parents, the Terrebonne Parish School Board delivered a shock Tuesday night, voting not to renew Superintendent Ed Richard’s contract.

The superintendent, whose current contract expires June 30, needed at least five votes to keep his job with the parish school system.

According to Roberts Rules of Order, a majority vote is required to pass certain recommendations, including the superintendent’s contract renewal. Following the split 4-4 vote, Richard’s contract as head of the Terrebonne Parish public school system will not be extended beyond this school year.

Voting against keeping Richard onboard for three more years were District 2 member Gregory Harding, Board Vice President Hayes Badeaux, Board President Clark Bonvillain and District 4 member Rickie Pitre. Members in favor included District 8 member Don Duplantis, District 6’s L.P. Bordelon, District 1’s Roosevelt Thomas and District 3’s Richard “Dicky” Jackson.

District 7 board member Roger DeHart was absent.

When asked about DeHart’s vote, which have nullified the board decision, Bonvillain said agreed that a fifth vote could have changed the outcome of Tuesday’s vote.

Robert’s Rules of Orders requires a 30-day or longer waiting period before the board can reconsider any matter, the school board president explained.

“I don’t want to say that it’s not possible for things to change, but the vote of the board was official. According to the superintendent’s contract, the board has to notify [Richard] whether the board’s going to renew his contract five months prior to the ending of the contract,” Bonvillain said. “As a board, we did that at Tuesday’s meeting.”

Richard’s contact extension was the hottest issue on the school board’s agenda, as teachers and residents filled the meeting room in support of the superintendent.

According to Bordelon, who voted in favor of Richard staying at the helm of the school system, most of the board members had their minds made up before the meeting began.

Early in the meeting, Bordelon proposed Richard’s contract vote be moved higher on the agenda. However, the motion failed to muster the needed two-thirds vote from the panel.

After a long, tedious wait, those gathered were shocked as the discussion unfolded.

Duplantis offered a motion to renew Richard’s existing contract, but asked that terms and conditions be added onto that contract which would then be renegotiated with the superintendent by the executive committee. The committee would have presented the modified contract to the board at its first meeting March had the motion passed.

Bordelon seconded Duplantis’ motion.

Although discussion among school board members on the contract extension was brief, several supporters weighed in when the floor was opened to the public.

“[Richard] is someone who actually shows that he cares for the teacher,” said Tracy Dorsey, an eighth grade teacher at Montegut Middle School. “I work at a bayou school and he is there when you need him. He comes into the class and he participates in the lesson. I have never seen a superintendent do that before.”

Jennifer Pitre, a teacher with 11 years’ experience in the local school system, echoed Dorsey’s endorsement. She said prior to Richard, she had never had a superior visit a class and participate with students.

“I have known Mr. Richard since I was a student at Upper Little Caillou, and I think he is doing an awesome job,” health instructor Erin Pitre added.

Following the discussion, the measure failed.

Richard will remain at his post until his contract ends in June.

Bonvillain said the school board will soon meet to discuss a search for Richard’s replacement.

“The board will go through an official superintendent search process to have a replacement for Mr. Richard by the end of his contract in June,” he said.

Richard took over the superintendent position in July 2004. Prior to that, he served as personnel supervisor for public schools.

In other business, the Terrebonne Parish School Board also:

• Appointed Thomas to serve on the board’s Executive Committee with Bonvillain and Badeaux.

• Acadian Elementary School Principal Arthur Joffrion Jr. was recognized by the school board for representing Terrebonne Parish and District 3 in the state Principal of the Year competition.

• Montegut Middle School teacher Melanie Boulet and Mulberry Elementary School teacher Cristy Crispino were both recognized by the school board for representing Terrebonne Parish and District 3 in the Louisiana Teacher of the Year program.

• Mulberry Elementary School received special recognition for maintaining the highest school performance score in Terrebonne Parish for 2006.

• West Park Elementary School was honored for attaining the highest school performance score growth in Terrebonne Parish for 2006.

• Chase Bank and the Terrebonne Foundation for Academic Excellence presented West Park Elementary School, Legion Middle School and H.L. Bourgeois High School with $3,000 grants for attaining the largest school performance growth in Terrebonne Parish for 2006.

• Accepted the revised school board ethnic codes, employment of personnel policy, professional leave policy, employee conduct policy and assignment policy.

• Authorized Geri Parra, parental involvement coordinator, to attend the Engage All Families Conference in Anaheim, Calif., Feb. 19-20.

• Approved a sabbatical leave for Nikki Thibodeaux, teacher at South Terrebonne High School.

• Approved a family and medical leave for Eula Guterz, teacher at Evergreen Junior High School.

• Approved a leave of absence without pay for bus driver, Teneka Carter.

• Accepted the lowest bid for an office supply catalog from Stire Office World in Houma.

Ed Richard