By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – In a bit of a surprise move earlier this month, St. John the Baptist Parish Superintendent Dr. Courtney Millet retired from the school system to take a position at St. Charles Catholic High School in LaPlace. Assistant Superintendent Herbert Smith has taken over in the interim while the parish school board decides how to move forward with its search for a permanent replacement.

There are many in the River Parishes who say that search should include qualified applicants who are close to home and also far and wide. According to results of last week’s L’Observateur online poll, more than 80 percent of those who voted said the school board should execute a nationwide search for a new school system head.

There was a combined 12 percent of voters who said the candidate should either be a person within the St. John School system, or someone with adequate experience living somewhere in the River Parishes. Another small percentage said the parish school board should save itself some time and just assume control of the school system itself.

A complete breakdown of results is as follows:

• 7 percent of respondents said, “interview principals or administrators within the school system.”

• 5 percent of respondents said, “look for a person with experience who is from the River Parishes.”

• 0 percent of respondents said, “Hire from within St. John Parish, but outside the school system.”

• 85 percent of respondents said, “execute a nationwide search.”

• 4 percent of respondents said, “put the school board in charge of the school system.”