Harlan Kirgan
St. Landry Parish School Superintendent Patrick Jenkins won approval from the School Board for an administrative reorganization.
“Once the job descriptions are approved we would immediately start the process between now and August,” he said at Thursday’s meeting of the St. Landry Parish School Board.
In a best case scenario, Jenkins estimated the changes may save the school system $139,000.
Jenkins vowed the changes would not add to the school system’s expenses.
Jenkins first presented the plan in public at the Board’s Executive Committee meeting on Jan. 23.
“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 at the committee meeting.
New positions are supervisor of LA4/Title I pre-kindergarten; supervisor of elementary education; supervisor of middle and secondary education; supervisor of (STEAM) science, mathematics English and arts; construction manager; 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.
Directors, supervisors and coordinators will be asked to apply for positions in the new organization scheme.
Most of the jobs will be filed internally, he said.
“We will be respectful and responsible and do our due diligence with all employees,” he said.
At Thursday’s meeting, the board approved job descriptions for director of federal programs; director of curriculum, instruction and assessment; director special education; supervisor of elementary education; supervisor of middle and secondary education; and supervisor or La/4 Title I Pre-K.
Board members sent a proposal to pay substitute bus drivers $79 a day back to the Finance Committee.
The board has been informed it must pay substitute drivers 65 percent of the pay of the driver they are replacing.
The bus driver pay has been contrasted with the pay for substitute teachers, which ranges from $4.50 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.
Voting to table the bus driver pay were board members Hazel Sias, Mary Ellen Donatto, Randy Wagley, Anthony Standberry, Roger Young, Charles Ross and Raymond Cassimere.
Voting against tabling were Candace Gerace, Donnie Perron, Kyle Boss and Huey Wyble.
In other action, Gerace was elected board vice president.
During the process, Wyble nominated Mary Ellen Donatto, a Eunice-area board member for vice president.
Wyble said Donatto, who serves as chairwoman of the board’s Building, Lands and Sites Committee, came to his rescue to add classrooms and renovations to Leonville Elementary.
“She rolled up her sleeves as if it was her school. I was very, very, very impressed with what she did. She drove from Eunice to Leonville for every little meeting we had,” Wyble said.
“I appreciate that,” Donatto replied. “That is my passion and that’s my love. I love Building, Lands and sites and I was fortunate to get again and thank you for everything you said, but I’m going to decline.”