By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

 

LUTCHER – The St. James Parish School System will not be seeking a new superintendent as the school board was able to hammer out an acceptable deal that Superintendent Alonzo Luce signed Monday.

School Board President Charles Nailor said when Luce approached him and his colleagues regarding a job offer he had received from the Louisiana Department of Education, Nailor asked what it would take to keep him here.

“He said it’s not about the money,” said Nailor.

Instead, Luce said his main concern was to have a sense of security and support within the St. James Parish Public School System.

“I want to be where people want me,” said Luce. “I appreciate the board coming back and saying ‘We want you here.’”

Among the adjustments made to the superintendent’s new contract is the addition of five more vacation days, bringing the total to 20. A clause has also been added stating the school board must give Luce 90 days notice if it does not plan to renew his contract. Conversely, Luce must give the school board 90 days notice if he intends to resign or he will lose the vesting of his insurance benefits. Although there was no initial increase in salary — it remains at $147,000 — the amount of the annual increase, contingent upon Luce meeting his predefined goals, was raised from 2.5 percent to 4 percent. The new contract expires Dec. 31, 2016.

Although the school board approved the contract Monday, two board members, Patricia Schexnayder and Kenneth Foret, voted against it, a move that seemed contrary to the idea of Luce feeling supported in the district.

Schexnayder, who often clashes with the superintendent, said, “You and I, as two educators, need to sit down and iron out some things.”

Foret, on the other hand, said he will still work with the superintendent but felt the school board’s caving to his demands sent the wrong message.

“I believe a contract’s a contract,” he said.

Luce still had 2 1/2 years left on his contract when he approached the board about the job offer.

Other board members, however, seemed pleased a deal could be worked out.

“It’s Thanksgiving week, and I’d like to give thanks for what you’ve brought to St. James Parish,” said Diana Cantillo.

The St. James Parish Public School System has a number of new initiatives in place right now including its virtual academy and magnet school, and many board members felt searching for a new superintendent at this time could be detrimental to the forward progress.

“If he leaves, and we go out for a new superintendent, we don’t know what we’re going to get,” said Nailor.

Luce seemed disturbed by the conflicted vote on the contract but ended up signing anyway.

“I was offered a very nice position with the state Department of Education, but I have unfinished work here in St. James,” he said.