Eno Lirette
February 12, 2007Broadcasters enjoy a boon market in Tri-parishes
February 14, 2007Terrebonne Parish’s superintendent of schools believes he’ll get a contract renewal, but if not, he plans to go away quietly and fish.
In the meantime, a former school board candidate who now calls herself an advocate for children, and whose recent effort also initiated recall movements against four Terrebonne Parish School Board members, is looking to fill the gap between the board and the community.
Houma resident-turned-activist Christine Price also claims that he has mounted enough ammunition to sue the board for alleged flaws in the parish’s special education programs.
However, at least one school board member facing a possible recall n Gregory Harding n said his aggressive work in the community should be enough to keep his job.
Terrebonne school superintendent Ed Richard, Price and Harding all voiced their thoughts and concerns on the Jerome Boykin Radio Show on KBZE 105.9FM Friday.
Boykin, the president of the Terrebonne Parish National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), hosted the show.
The radio program followed last week’s 4-4 stalemate to revisit the earlier decision not to renew Richard’s contract, which is slated to end June 30.
The local fervor has also resulted in a recall movement against the four nay voters: School Board members Clark Bonvillain, Gregory Harding, Hayes Badeaux, and Rickie Pitrie.
Richard told Boykin that he believes he will be offered a new contract at the board’s Feb 27 meeting. “I feel I have a good chance of getting the votes… I feel there is a strong possibility now” he said.
Despite a strong show of support, the school superintendent now finds himself in a fight for his career.
“When you fight for your job and realize that no one wants you, you’re in seriously trouble… but I don’t feel that way. I know I have some support now,” the superintendent said.
When asked how many years his contract should be extended, Richard replied, “In three years, I can do what I feel needs to be done. But if they want to offer me less than that, I would compromise.”
In June 2006, the school board reviewed Richard’s performance and gave him passing grades.
Six months later, however, the board found itself split on renewing the superintendent’s contract or finding a replacement for the job.
“One board member told me this, when I took the job, ‘You know there’s nine of us and you’re not going to please all nine of us every month,’ and so therefore, I believe when this happens, some of them take it personally and some get mad, while all I’m trying to do is do what I believe is best for our children,” Richard told Boykin.
Another reason for some board members’ disenchantment, Richard said, could be his inattention to some of their respective priorities during the latter part of 2005 and into the early part of 2006.
“We had two hurricanes back to back, and four of our schools flooded,” he said. “This, unfortunately, has taken time and energy away not only away from some of the projects I had planned, but from some the board members had planned.”
Many of the parish’s older schools are showing signs of wear, a point Richard addressed when Boykin asked if it was time to pursue a new tax mileage.
“All I can say is that the public will support the system, if they truly see where the money is being spent… if we can give them a detailed account, they will vote for it. They know our buildings are in bad shape,” he said. “Recently, we had windows falling out at Terrebonne High School.”
Board member Don Duplantis said he intends to bring Richard’s contract renewal before the board again in three weeks. According to board policy, members can revisit a failed measure with a simple majority after 30 days, which could pave the way for Duplantis’ reconsideration request to pass.
The next board meeting was initially set for Feb. 20. Bonvillain sought to have the meeting date pushed up to Feb. 13 because of the Mardi Gras holiday. The board next meets Feb. 27.
