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School board approves reclassification of HR administrative assistant to human resources manager after contested debate
Summary
The Saint Mary Parish School Board voted to dissolve the administrative assistant position in human resources and create a reclassified human resources manager position effective July 1, after board members raised questions about advertising, pay and access to payroll data. The motion passed by roll-call (tally: 7 yes, 4 no).
On May 8, 2025, the Saint Mary Parish School Board voted to abolish the current administrative assistant position in the human resources office and create a new human resources manager position effective July 1, 2025. The motion passed by roll-call with a tally of 7 yes and 4 no.
Board members said the job has evolved beyond clerical duties and now involves technical tasks such as running payroll scripts and managing employee data. "This position runs scripts. It's kind of like ... coding in this position," said a staff member from the district technology/HR team, describing duties that include running programmatic checks for payroll and stipends.
The board heard that the current administrative assistant has been performing advanced, technical work supporting payroll and state reporting. "This position will not go into effect until July 1 and people will have to apply," a district staff presenter said when board members asked whether the change amounted to an immediate promotion.
Why it mattered: members pressing for clarity said the change affects payroll security, hiring fairness and the district budget. Several trustees asked that the job be advertised and that the district make sure multiple qualified candidates could apply. "The board members need more information," said board member Miss Moore during debate and briefly moved to table the item before the final vote.
The human resources reclassification was presented to the board as a restructuring rather than the addition of a net new position. Board materials in the packet stated the district employs roughly 1,300 staff and that the administrative workload now includes technical data-import and script-running tasks to prepare payroll and state reports.
Clarifying details provided at the meeting included the district's current starting pay for an administrative assistant (listed in the packet as $31,680) and the starting pay shown for the reclassified manager on the teacher-based index (listed as $47,800 with an index factor). The packet noted an index multiplier of roughly 1.33; board discussion referenced an approximate difference in annual pay for the incumbent on the order of "about $32,000" compared with the current assistant pay, based on packet figures.
Board action: The motion to abolish the current administrative assistant position and create a human resources manager position (effective 07/01/2025) was moved and seconded and carried on a roll call vote recorded as 7 yes, 4 no. The board directed that the new job description be approved and that the district post the position for applicants before the effective date.
The board record shows questions and requests that the district advertise the reclassified position internally and externally and that advertising occur only after the job description is approved. The district staff said advertising was planned after board approval and that the effective date would still be July 1.
The meeting packet and on‑record discussion emphasized that the change is a restructuring of an existing position and that hiring and compensation would follow posted procedures and the upcoming fiscal-year timetable.
The board did not make any personnel appointments by name during the public meeting.
