The brakes were slammed on the negotiations on St. Landry Parish School Superintendent Patrick Jenkins’ contract.
The School Board’s Executive Committee voted that Jenkins would get an informal evaluation in March and a decision on whether to begin talks may be made in April.
Jenkins’ contract expires on Dec. 31, but the Board must give him at least 120 days notice if it intends to not renew his employment.
The Executive Committee decision came on an agenda item to discuss or take action on authorizing Board President Donnie Perron to negotiate the contract with Jenkins. The Board has the final say on the contract.
Perron said he and Jenkins placed the item on the agenda for the meeting in Opelousas on Wednesday.
Committee member Joyce Haynes said there is no urgency to begin negotiations and the Board has until September “to get things going.”
Denise Rose, another committee member, said Jenkins requested three informal evaluations and formal evaluation in December.
Jenkins said he needs more than 120 days notice from the Board.
“Do you want me or not? So, because if the answer is no then I understand that we move on about our business,” he said.
There are no jobs available within a 120-day span, he said.
Jenkins said an evaluation given him in the summer graded him at 31.76 points out of a possible 40 points.
“I want to continue the work that we’ve been doing,” he said.
Jenkins was hired in November 2016. The last audit shows he is paid $157,700 a year plus benefits and other compensation for a total of $207,503.
The district has not had a deficit and has grown academically during his tenure, he said.
“We have a lot of things we have to do. We don’t want to create an atmosphere of uncertainty because when there is uncertainty it does create a lame duck situation,” he said.
“If you are satisfied with the leadership I’ve provided although it isn’t perfect than we have to be able to say to the community that we are moving forward with the person we have,” he said.
Board member Myron Guillory said the public deserves to know what is going to happen in regard to the job within the next month. But Guillory’s call for an immediate vote was ignored.
Referring to an earlier comment by Jenkins, Haynes said, “I think there is a lot of things that can be said, but I’m going to tell you this, there are some people who are pregnant and don’t know they are pregnant.”
Haynes added, “At the same time there are a lot kudos that you deserve.”
Haynes said the agenda item caught her by surprise.
Hazel Sias, Board vice president and a member of the Executive Committee, said her major concern is Opelousas schools.
“To me, as long as the schools continue to fail I have a problem.”
Sias said, “We need to do something in Opelousas whether Mr. Jenkins stays, fine, but the concentration needs to be here in Opelousas.”
She added, “Opelousas is going to pull the whole system down.”
Albert Hayes Jr., a Eunice Board member, said he is a booster for Jenkins and the job he has done, but added, “I don’t think we are being callous in not doing this tonight.”
He said, “I’m not in favor of a carousel of superintendents every time there is a complaint.”
There were supporters for Jenkins and they included Bill Rodier, the parish’s economic development executive, and Natalie Hardee, South Louisiana Community College chancellor.
Rodier said Jenkins has gained the trust of the business community and taken on hard challenges.
Harder said Jenkins has “...the energy and the passion and the commitment...” to change the parish’s schools.
The school district would lose two to three years of progress if it decides to find a new superintendent, she said.
Not all of the audience comment was positive for Jenkins.
Elsie Semien, a principal who been at odds with Jenkins, said, “I want to ask him to become a better listener to what people have to say.”
She also said, “I’m still not saying not to renew the superintendent’s contract.”
Gamal Taylor, president of the parish chapter of the Louisiana Associaton of Educators, said he has heard concerns from principals and teachers.
“As my old grandmother would say, ‘If you’ve been in a room that stinks long enough you become accustomed to the smell.’”
Taylor said the superintendent has sought an assistant superintendent, but the school system needs social workers, instructional specialists “... and those positions aren’t even posted.”
The data about the school system doesn’t show “any less or more D or F school in this district right now,” he said of Jenkins’ tenure.
Mary Ellen Donatto, a Eunice Board member, said the 13 Board members are serious about doing their jobs.
“I need for you to know that the 13 of us are very much aware of the good that has been done and whose perception it is of the things that have been neglected...” she said.
Donatto’s observation included Opelousas Junior High School, the parish’s only F school that recently received new leadership.
“I’m watching for Opelousas Junior High to get what they need,” she said. “I have to agree with the community because I saw the community rally behind Dr. Fabre (principal at Opelousas Junior High School) when she had her meeting and saw what was needed. I was there. I don’t miss anything. I listen and I watch every single thing and we are going to consider every single thing you said, but I need for you to know a chain is only strong as its weakest link.”
She added that as educator, “I have been connected to this parish for 50 years. We have to do something different ...”
Board member Raymond Cassimere said the contract negotiations in the past have included the vice president.
