Harlan Kirgan
St. Landry Parish School Superintendent Patrick Jenkins received a proficient score in an annual evaluation conducted by the School Board on Thursday.
Jenkins was scored by 12 of the 13 Board members with an average score of 33.6.
In 2019, the Board’s average score rated him at 31.33 and in 2018 his average score was 31.17.
The superintendent’s rating by Board member was released after the meeting Thursday. The underlying scores by members were not released.
The scoring is exemplary, 40 to 36; proficient, 35 to 26; developing/needs improvement, 25 to 16; and unacceptable, 15 to 0.
Areas that were evaluated were: Mission, Vision and Goals; Planning and Assessment; Instructional Leadership; Organizational Leadership and Safety; Communication and Community Relations; Professionalism; and Divisionwide Student Academic Progress.
Scores by Board members were: Milton Ambres, 30; Josh Boudreaux, 32; Raymond Cassimere, 32; Mary Ellen Donatto, 30; Myron Guillory, 40; Albert Hayes Jr., 30; Donnie Perron, 39; Denise Rose, 36; Hazel Sias, 22.8; Anthony Standberry, 40; and Randy Wagley, 34.
Kyle Boss was absent from the meeting and did not turn in an evaluation.
Perron, Board president, said some members completed the evaluation before the meeting and others did the form during the meeting.
The Board met for about 30 minutes in executive session to discuss the evaluation.
Perron said many members appreciated Jenkins’ communication with them. “It was good meeting,” he said after the session closed to the public.
“As usual there were concerns with the schools in Opelousas,” Perron said.
Jenkins said it was the highest score he has received as superintendent.
One of the big factors is how he is communicating the Board members individually and collectively, he said.
“This has been a trying year from cyber to hurricanes ... to COVID,” he said.
Jenkins said the school district has operated the past four years with a balanced budget.
Jenkins was hired in November 2016. In May, the Board extended his contract to June 2022.
“I’ll stay as long as they will have me. I’m not looking to go anywhere,” he said after Thursday’s meeting.
Jenkins said the district has shown growth during his tenure.
“We’ve improved our graduation rate each year. I don’t make many guarantees, but I’ll guarantee next year our graduation rate will be the highest it has been probably in the last 15 years. It is not where we want it to be, but it has definitely improved the last four years,” he said.
Academic achievement at the Opelousas schools is a continuing issue for the district Jenkins said Opelosuas Senior High School has moved from a D or F to a C and the graduation rate has improved “tremendously.”
Grolee and Northeast elementary schools are still D, but have scored growth, he said.
Another challenge for the school district is recruiting and retaining teachers, he said. Part of that challenge is to see if the community will support a tax to pay for pay raises for teachers.
“At some point we have to be able to compete with the Lafayettes ...” he said.