St. Mary Parish School Board votes to enter executive session on employee matter after public comment on superintendent traits

The St. Mary Parish School Board on Feb. 19 voted to enter an executive session under Louisiana Revised Statutes §42:17(A)(1) to discuss the character, professional competence or physical or mental health of a school board employee. The special meeting convened at 5:30 p.m. in the Evan Meetings Meeting Room.

The motion to move into executive session was made by Miss LaSalle and seconded by Miss Brent. Board President Miss Black called for a voice vote; the motion carried. The board cited Louisiana Revised Statutes §42:17(A)(1) as the legal basis for holding a closed meeting on personnel matters. The transcript does not record a roll-call tally for the vote; the board announced the motion carried on a voice vote.

Before the board voted, a public commenter, Mister Babin, addressed the board during the allotted three-minute public comment period. Babin identified himself as a retired schoolteacher of 25½ years and an Operation Desert Storm veteran. He urged the board not to hire a superintendent who "does not accept responsibility for their actions,” who "backtracks or crawfishes," or who micromanages principals to the detriment of classrooms. "Please do not offer the contract to someone who micromanages to the point of having people who were meant to be an educator consider another profession," Babin said.

Babin also asked the board to avoid hiring a superintendent who would not give principals autonomy or who would apply double standards when taking disciplinary action; he referenced a precedent involving "Mr. Steve Russo." Babin requested an additional minute after his three-minute allotment to make two more statements; the transcript records him asking for the extra minute but does not record the board granting additional time.

After public comment, Miss LaSalle moved, and Miss Brent seconded, that the board enter executive session pursuant to Louisiana Revised Statutes §42:17(A)(1). President Black called for those in favor to say "aye." The transcript records an "aye" and the chair declaring, "Motion carries. We're moving into executive session." The public record in the transcript ends at that point; the content of the executive session was not disclosed in the public transcript.

The board convened the special meeting with a roll call; members present included Miss Brent, Miss Moore, Miss Jones, Miss Griffin, Miss LaSalle, Mister Guillory, Mister Parity, Miss Black (president), Mister Mancuso and Miss Dennis. The invocation and pledge of allegiance opened the meeting; those ceremonial items are not substantive to the personnel matter and are not summarized here.