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Public speakers urge stricter oversight of curriculum and rebuilding funds as superintendent search begins
Summary
Two public commenters urged the board to require clear qualifications for the next superintendent, review classroom materials they called "progressive curriculum," and create an oversight committee for rebuilding expenditures and invoices tied to the district's reconstruction funds.
Two members of the public used the meeting's public-comment period to press the school board on curriculum content, the superintendent search and oversight of rebuilding funds and expenditures.
Linda Poggi (introduced as Linda Poggi of Shelley Court, Houma) presented a list of qualifications she said the next superintendent should have, saying candidates must demonstrate "evidence in their career that they have kept the needs of the children in the communities they live in first in mind," have classroom teaching and curriculum experience, and "be kind and compassionate and thoughtful." She urged the board to prioritize classroom experience and instruction-focused leadership in the upcoming superintendent search.
Another commenter, who identified herself as Sherry Chanton of Elba Street, criticized what she called an adopted "progressive curriculum," asked board members whether they knew "what a progressive curriculum looks like," and warned parents would resist mask mandates if COVID-19 restrictions return. Chanton also urged the board to review and disclose the sources of curricular materials and said she planned to pursue public records on district expenditures tied to recent federal COVID funds.
Chanton asked that the board create an oversight committee to monitor rebuilding expenditures and invoices tied to the district's recovery funds; she said she was seeking copies of invoices for approximately $40 million the district received in earlier COVID-related funding and indicated she would obtain those records through public-records requests if necessary. The speaker explicitly asked for an oversight committee that would see invoices, contracts and expenditures related to the larger rebuilding fund the public has discussed (she referenced an amount cited as $200,000,000 by members of the public).
Superintendent Martin answered briefly during public comment period that, in response to the question of whether prohibited material is present in schools, he said "No" when the board chair asked all to respond, indicating that school officials were not aware of inappropriate curricular material. Several board members thanked the speakers, and some members said they supported further review of curriculum materials and of the superintendent selection criteria.
What the board will do next: The meeting agenda already included advertisement of the superintendent search and a public meeting scheduled to receive comments on the superintendent search process. The board did not take formal action to form an oversight committee during this meeting; requests for records and any future committee would follow district procedures.
