RESERVE — Who is running the day-to-day operations for St. John the Baptist Parish Public Schools?

That question was asked three times by School Board member Keith Jones during a Tuesday morning meeting of the Board’s executive committee.

The question took on added importance following news shared by School Board President Patrick Sanders that Superintendent Kevin George was taking two weeks off of work under doctor’s orders and would be returning May 20.

George did not attend Tuesday’s executive committee meeting and is not expected to attend Thursday’s full School Board meeting.

George’s Tuesday morning email to School Board members explaining his two-week medical sabbatical followed an email he sent the full board Friday morning announcing his intention not to seek a contract extension and resign from running St. John Public Schools no later than June 2020.

St. John Public Schools does not currently have an active assistant superintendent, school board members said, due to Heidi Trosclair’s months-long medical leave that began last calendar year.

“Is the District on cruise control?” Jones asked Tuesday. “I think that might be something more of an issue that we need to be immediately attacking right now, because the School Board is the biggest employer in the parish. We still have to run the business. We don’t know if (George) is going to come back in two weeks.”

Sanders said Executive Director of Curriculum & Instruction Tracy Hypolite would most likely sit in the superintendent’s chair for Thursday’s public meeting.

With George announcing his plans to exit the superintendent’s office after six years, School Board members are currently grappling with the most effective way to begin their search for a permanent replacement.

School Board Attorney Courtney Joiner advised School Board members they must tackle two separate issues: 1) establish qualifications for the job and begin the search for a new superintendent and 2) begin a dialogue with current superintendent Kevin George and negotiate a jointly defined timeline for his exit.

George told L’OBSERVATEUR he is proud of a lot of accomplishments earned in recent years, noting, “this is a good time and place for the School Board to begin to find my replacement.”

As superintendent, George is the public school district’s lead educator and the only hire made by elected St. John Parish School Board members.

George’s contract runs through June 2020, and his resignation will be no later than then. However, it could come much sooner based on the replacement process and joint exit negotiation.

Sanders said the Board’s two priorities are hiring a superintendent and approving a balanced budget.

“This opportunity provides us with a great opportunity to address both simultaneously,” Sanders said.

“I have asked my fellow Board members not to rush to judgment and allow ourselves to be open and transparent about our decisions. We will continue to concentrate on what’s in the best interest of the children through this process.”

George said a recent death in his family changed his mindset about what he wants to do with the rest of his career.

“There is no better time than the present to seek out other opportunities,” George said.

“Six years is pretty long for a superintendent. Six years of doing the same thing over and over really does wear on you physically, emotionally and health wise.”

Last week, George told L’OBSERVATEUR he would remain in the office while monitoring his own health, adding his physician told him recently to avoid stressful situations.

“I will still handle day-to-day operations,” George said. “I want to be able to transition the new person in and do all I can to help facilitate that process.”

According to Sanders, George emailed him saying he was prepared to work the summer following his return to the office May 20.