Harlan Kirgan
The St. Landry Parish School Board’s Central Office is on the verge of a reorganization in a plan presented by Superintendent Patrick Jenkins.
“This reorganization will not cost the Board any additional funds,” Jenkins said. “The best case scenario is it will save us funds — over a $100,000. The worst case scenario is we’ll break even.”
Jenkins presented the plan at Monday’s meeting of the Board’s Executive Committee. Also meeting Monday were the Buildings, Lands and Sites, and Finance committees.
Jenkins said some positions will be eliminated and other consolidated in the reorganization.
“The positions that will be eliminated will be coordinators of science, English and mathematics and also music will be consolidated and rolled into other positions with this new organization chart,” he said.
While Jenkins presented it the committee for its approval, Board member Donnie Perron pointed out that the superintendent does not need Board approval for the change. Personnel decisions are the responsibility of the superintendent.
New positions are supervisor of LA4/Title I pre-kindergarten, supervisor of elementary education, supervisor of middle and secondary education, supervisor of science, mathematics English and arts, construction manager and director of special education, director of operations.
Direct reports to the superintendent are director of federal programs, director of curriculum, director of finance, director of operations, supervisor of personnel, supervisor of child welfare and attendance and director of special education.
Lucretia Chancler Hertzock, supervisor of child nutrition, objected to be placed under the director of finance and thought her job should be a director.
“I deal with finance, I deal with procurement, I deal with maintenance, I deal with personnel, I even deal with the homeless and migrants. So child nutrition is vast,” she said.
Hertzock said she has 115 employees, “but nobody considers this a director position. I work my tail off.”
Jenkins said child nutrition is not a director position in other school districts and finances are an issue with the program.
“We know with child nutrition there is not a child nutrition program in the state that is financially solvent,” he said.
Jenkins said he would bring the reorganization to the full board, which meets Feb. 2.
Jenkins also presented a draft calendar for the 2017-2018 school year. The first day of school for students is Aug. 9 and the final day is May 22. The calendar goes to the full Board.
The Executive Committee also decided the full Board will elect a vice president at its next meeting. The committee delayed a decision on how its membership is determined. The current system is based on seniority.
The Building, Lands and Sites Committee heard a from Student Transportation Specialists about the services they offer.
But at the insistence of Board member Anthony Standberry the focus was on routing.
Jenkins said bids will have to be solicited for routing services.
The Finance Committee voted to raise substitute bus driver pay from $65 to $79 a day. The increase is mandated by the state, Tressa Miller, finance director said.
Questioned by Board member Kyle Boss, Miller said substitute teacher pay ranges from $44.50 to $70 a day. The lowest pay rate is for substitute with an associate college degree. The higher pay is for those with certification in education or a master’s degree.