Board authorizes president and vice president to negotiate superintendent's contract

The St. Mary Parish School Board voted 8-3 to authorize the board president and vice president to negotiate a renewal of the superintendent's contract and to present any negotiated agreement to the full board for final approval.

The motion, made by Mr. Parity and seconded by Miss Jones, gives the two officers authority to negotiate terms with the superintendent but does not itself approve a contract. The board took a roll-call vote on the motion, resulting in eight votes in favor and three opposed.

The motion text recorded on the transcript was: “consider authorizing the board president and vice president to negotiate with the superintendent, the renewal of the superintendent's contract and to bring such negotiated contract to the full board for approval with the wishes of the board.” Mr. Parity made the motion and Miss Jones seconded it. The roll call recorded “Yes” votes from Ms. Brent, Ms. Moore, Ms. Anselm, Miss Jones, Mr. Parity, Miss Black, Mr. Mancuso and Ms. Thinnes, and “No” votes from Miss Griffin, Miss LaSalle and Mister Guillory. The chair then announced, “Vote is eight-three.”

The board did not record further discussion or conditions around the negotiation terms in the portion of the transcript provided. The authorization directs the president and vice president to negotiate; any final contract must be returned to the full board for approval, per the motion.

Separately, the transcript shows a procedural motion to adjourn later in the meeting: Mr. Mancuso moved to adjourn and Ms. Brent seconded. A voice call for the ayes was made; the transcript does not record the final vote count or a formal announcement of the adjournment outcome in the excerpt provided.

The negotiation authority granted by the board does not itself change the superintendent’s employment terms; it directs board officers to negotiate and present a completed agreement to the full board for a subsequent vote.