CHRISTINE HARVEY / L’Observateur / July 17, 1999

LUTCHER – Following months of heated controversy surrounding the replacement of its interim public schools’ leader, St. James Parish finallyhas the superintendent it has been looking for.

P. Edward Cancienne, who left his job as Assumption Parish’ssuperintendent to make the move to St. James, took the oath of officeTuesday night before a standing-room only crowd packed with supporters.

“The St. James team of pride begins tonight,” Cancienne said.Judge John Peytavin of the 23rd Judicial District Court, Division B, swore in Cancienne while his wife, children, parents and in-laws looked on.

Cancienne pledged to the school board and the community that he would be honest with himself and the board.

Board President Kenneth Foret said he likes Cancienne’s abilities to be honest and a great communicator.

“I think Ed possesses (those qualities),” he said.

Cancienne said he has “three simple values” he tries to go by: take care of yourself, or be the best you can be; take care of each other, or make sure to collaborate, cooperate and communicate; and take care of your place, meaning respect your school buildings.

“Like the bonfires on Dec. 24, we will light the way for generations tocome,” he said.

Cancienne also praised the board members for their “grassroots understanding” of the people they represent and their ability to rise above politics.

But Cancienne’s predecessor would probably not agree with this latter assessment of the board.

Walter J. Landry, who served for the past year as interim schoolssuperintendent of St. James Parish, is suing the board, alleging charges ofracism and political maneuvering. Cancienne, who is white, was chosenover Landry, who is black, for the permanent superintendent’s job.

All the board members congratulated and welcomed Cancienne into office and generally agreed that member Charles Nailor put their feelings best, though Nailor did allude to the board’s previous political actions.

“I know he’s here to do a great job. I know he’s going to move this systemforward. Let’s put the politics behind us and education on the forefront,”Nailor said.

Getting down to business, the board endorsed a resolution by member Lloyd LeBlanc authorizing the employment of special legal counsel to defend the board against Landry’s lawsuit claims or those of any other person, agency or the U.S. government.The board plans to hire the law firm of Vezina and Gattuso, L.L.C., ofGretna, to defend itself in this matter once State Attorney General Richard Ieyoub approves the request.

In other action, the board unanimously approved a recommendation by its finance committee to re-roof Fifth Ward Elementary’s cafeteria and kitchen and replace its kitchen range hood on an emergency basis.

The board had accepted a recommendation at its last meeting to reject the high bids received for the work at Fifth Ward and wait another year to do the work, even though serious leaks had been discovered in the cafeteria where food is served.

Roofing contractors would have constructed temporary patches in the meantime so the board would have had more time to receive acceptable bids to do the job.

Also, the board approved a recommendation to accept an approximately $137,000 low bid by Hi-Tech Services, Inc., of Hahnville, to construct anathletic facility at Lutcher High School. Construction is expected to take six months.

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