Vo-Tech work raises ethics question

Ethics questions lobbed last week about work performed at Terrebonne Parish’s vocational technical school have created another chasm between some members of the school board, the current administration and the community.

And at least two members, Hayes Badeaux Jr. and Gregory Harding, see the allegations that students at the vo-tech school performed certain repair work for school board representatives as a political attack hurled their way in retaliation for their vote against renewing the contract of Ed Richard, Terrebonne Parish Superintendent of Schools.

The practice of repairing items dates back to the school’s opening, Richard said. School board employees, including teachers, and other Central Office employees have often provided a variety of products for vo-tech students to build or repair.

The vocational school does not buy parts, but does provide free labor, he said.

But last week, the school board approved a resolution asking the state Board of Ethics to conduct an educational seminar for all school board members and their employees, regarding any possible ethic violations. The resolution also asks the state ethics board to give an opinion as to whether or not any action needs to be taken against anyone accused.

Badeaux represents the District 9 seat on the board, the Bourg area. His career includes stints as principal of Montegut Middle School, Pointe Aux Chenes Elementary and Lacache Middle School. He was also principal of the Terrebonne Vocational Technical School from 1983 to 1994.

“After 44 years with the Terrebonne Parish School System, first as an educator, and now a board member, I feel pretty good if that’s all they can accuse me of,” he said. “I’m possibly in violation of an ethics code because I brought my mud boat to the vocational school to get repaired? I reported it myself to the state.

“If I did something wrong, I’m ready to take the consequences, but let me tell you,

teachers, school board members, employees from the sheriff’s office, they’ve all brought items to the school to be fixed,” he said. “This has been done for years. Why? It’s all educational.”

Instead of having students build, tear down and rebuild items, Badeaux said school officials began asking employees and citizens for projects, all in the name of broadening students’ on the job training and education.

“That’s why I know, I’m being singled out, and anyone who works at the vocational school who is a friend, or who had respect for me is being singled out… all because I feel we need someone to move our schools in a new direction, and that person is not Ed Richard,’ he said.

Badeaux described the superintendent as “a great guy, and a good friend.”

However, he said new blood was needed at the school’s top post.

“We need someone new at the helm who can lead our employees, all for the sake of our students. It’s just sad what this has all come to,” he said. “There’s so much going on behind the scenes with personnel, and unfortunately, we can’t talk about any of it in public.”

Board members are prohibited from disclosing conversations held in executive session, he said. “But hey, if the board votes to give [Richard] a new contract on Feb 27, I will work with him just as I have done before,” he said.

Harding, District 2 School Board member, holds one of the two minority seats, in Terrebonne Parish.

“This is all an attempt to try and smear Hayes Badeaux,” Harding said. “It’s amazing that a practice like this could be going on for 40 years, and everyone is happy. But because we have a new political climate that’s out there, things change.”

However, Bonvillain explained, depending on the ethic committee’s decision, the resolution is a means to educate school officials.

“We are trying to take the steps to clear up these allegations. We want our vocational school to be run in the proper manner,” he said. “If the ethics committee deems that what the students have been doing as a violation of the ethics code, then we will stop immediately.”

He agreed the repair exchange had been in place for years, but said law changes may now prohibit anybody employed by the school system from benefiting from the vo-tech work. “We would like for the committee to come down and maybe give us a seminar on the proper ways to educate and teach our vocational students without violating any laws,” the board president said.

But Harding is dubious about the timing of the issue.

Harding, like Badeaux, is the target of a recall effort because he voted against Richard’s contract renewal.

“I like Mr. Richard as well. He’s a great guy. But it’s time we move in a new direction,” he said.

For his part, Richard would offer no comment on the four school board members, Badeaux, Harding, Clark Bonvillain and Rickie Pitre, seeking his replacement. The four have expressed their disenchantment with Richard’s job performance, and voted against renewing his contract.

However, on the topic of the vocational school, Richard said that he first heard of the allegations, when they were brought to light on a local television show.

“I believe the principal of the school reported the news first to HTV,” Richard said. “What I can say is that what goes on here, has gone on since [the vo-tech school] opened.

“However, this practice also goes on at schools throughout Louisiana. People have things they have to get fixed. You pay for the parts. You pay for anything that’s involved in the repair of something. You just don’t pay for the labor, because people doing the work are students,” Richard said.

“Also, because they’re students, there are no guarantees. So if you bring your car in to have your oil changed, and a student forgets to tighten the plug, you drive away, and later, you need a new engine, which you will have to pay for,” he explained. “That’s why we’ve never opened this service to the public, and kept it in-house.”

If the ethics committee deems it is time for the process to end, Richard said his administration will comply.