By SANDY SEAL / L’Observateur / May 2, 1999

ST. JAMES – P. Edward Cancienne, superintendent of Assumption Parishschools, is headed for the River Parishes.

On Tuesday, the St. James School Board named Cancienne its newsuperintendent.

Cancienne, who lives in Belle Rose, will now negotiate a contract with the board’s negotiating committee, Lloyd LeBlanc, Charles Nailor Sr. andKenneth Foret Sr. He said following the meeting held at Fifth WardElementary School he would make no decision on residency until contract negotiations are complete.

Following the vote, Cancienne told board members as well as those in the audience he was humbled by the decision.

“I look upon this position as that of the greatest servant. I will give it allmy effort, passion and energy,” he said.

Cancienne joined St. James interim superintendent Walter Landry and St.John Parish School System personnel director Alfred Donaldson as finalists for the superintendent’s job, which drew 12 applications from around the state. The three finalists interviewed before the board justover a week ago.

Tuesday, the school board took a roll call vote. Cancienne received sixvotes, while Landry got two.

George Nassar, who voted with Willis Octave to retain Landry as superintendent, asked the vote for Cancienne become unanimous after the decision to hire Cancienne was made. That motion passed 7-0.Landry was appointed to a one-year term as superintendent when John Boughton retired last summer. His contract runs through June 30.At the time of his appointment, the board said it would conduct a search for a permanent superintendent this year.

Landry felt he was the right man for the job and urged the board earlier this year to extend his contract. But the majority of board membersrefused. Instead the body voted to conduct a statewide search for thepermanent superintendent.

Cancienne has been superintendent of Assumption Parish Schools for 10 years. Prior to that he served eight years with the Louisiana Departmentof Education, holding positions as administrative officer, administrator and confidential assistant to the state superintendent of education.

He has a doctorate degree with a concentration in administration from Louisiana State University. His certifications are in English and socialstudies as well as principal, parish or city school supervisor of instruction and school superintendent.

Cancienne was also a finalist for the superintendent’s job in Ascension Parish, but on Tuesday that school board appointed someone from within the Ascension Parish School System to the school system’s top post.

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