Chaotic Orleans Parish School Board meeting appoints interim chief

By Zoe Sullivan
Contributing Writer

Farcical would be one word for describing May 15th’s Orleans Parish School Board meeting, but the issues under consideration by the Board, increasing the millage rate and the district’s leadership , were hardly comical—nor was the conduct by certain audience members, particularly Sandra Hester, who insulted both board members and those making public statements. Hester regularly told Kathy Moss, Deputy General Counsel, charged with inviting speakers to the podium to “shut up” and called Caucasian teachers who testified “white saviors.” Hester also commented on Leslie Jacobs’ religion. Security did not step in to remove or quiet Hester at any point during the long evening.

The first part of the meeting began roughly 30 minutes late because the board had no quorum. Once the proceedings did begin, Hester and her three female companions seated in the front rows just behind the speakers’ podium, talked loudly over those addressing the board.

Fireworks also broke out amongst the Board members during the business meeting. Board members Ira Thomas and Cynthia Cade objected to the process President Robichaux used to bring Stan Smith, currently the Board’s Chief Financial Officer, on as the interim superintendent. Both were upset that Robichaux had spoken with the media about his preferred candidate for the position before the Board had come to an agreement.

When Robichaux opened the floor for nominations, Brett Bonin nominated Smith, and Cade submitted 10 nominees of her own including former principal Dr. Barbara Ferguson and Dr. Rosalynne Dennis, executive director of Exceptional Children’s Services. There was a back and forth over whether all the nominations would be tabled so that the board could determine whether the process complied with its regulations. “I would like everyone here, their qualifications to be looked at, everything they’ve done in the district to be looked at, before we make a decision,” Cade said to the board during the discussion. “We never got together to discuss these candidates for the interim superintendent position,” she affirmed, “and it wasn’t noticed to the public.”

Thomas threatened to contact the state Attorney General about the way the appointment process was conducted. In an interview subsequent to the meeting, Board President Thomas Robichaux told The Louisiana Weekly that the regulation that Cade and Thomas invoked “only applies to regular employees and not board employees. So teaching positions, school administrators, etc.” He also said that, in spite of the rancor, “this was a more open process than last time.”

In a phone interview, Thomas reaffirmed his intention to contact the Attorney General, stating “something has to be done to address this problem that we’ve been having since January, with the board now seeming willing to violate board policy.”

Asked his thoughts on the disruptions from the public, Thomas told The Louisiana Weekly: “I don’t condone any of Miss Hester’s behavior where she is being in any way disrespectful of any speaker who comes to the mic.” Thomas also expressed the view that the president should be more open to hearing criticisms and answering questions from the public.

The Board also voted to appoint Kathleen Padian to the position of deputy superintendent and set her salary at $145,000.

Ultimately, Cade and Thomas lost the vote on Smith’s appointment, in spite of Cade’s argument that Smith is not certified to be a superintendent and, therefore, is not eligible to serve in the interim position.

In spite of the chaos at the meeting, the Board did vote to approve an increase in the millage rate from 43.60 to 45.31, a jump that they estimate will bring in an additional $5 million to the district. Thomas and Cade opposed this increase, but lost the 5-2 vote. Opponents of the increase stressed during testimony that the Board had not demonstrated an ability to handle funds properly.

Harold Bailey, a young, Black man, criticized the board for the tardy start to the meeting before laying out his criticism of the proposed millage. “I believe there’s not enough oversight in this whole process,” he said.

This article was originally published in the May 21, 2012 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper