Assistant principal asks board if she still has a job
BAKER — Baker Middle School’s assistant principal came to the School Board meeting Tuesday to ask whether she still had a job.
In a letter to the board, Ericka Jones said after she interviewed for the principal’s job at Baker Middle, Superintendent Ulysses Joseph told her she did not even have enough votes on the School Board to retain her current post.
During the board meeting, Jones asked who had recommended her termination.
“Your name is not on the list of personnel recommendations. You are not on the agenda,” board President Elaine Davis said.
“My career is in jeopardy. I just want to know if I need to start looking for another job,” Jones said.
Board member Doris Alexander asked Joseph whether Jones would continue to serve as assistant principal.
“As far as I know,” Joseph said.
The board voted 4-1 to approve the list of personnel recommendations, which included the resignation of Baker High School Assistant Principal Laree Taylor.
Board members Troy Watson, Dana Carpenter, Shona Boxie and Davis voted for the changes. Alexander cast the dissenting vote.
Fourteen Baker teachers also have quit in the past two months.
Baker High teacher Candice Russell will succeed Taylor as assistant principal.
Alexander asked whether the position was advertised before Taylor was selected.
“We have always transferred personnel within the district this way,” Carpenter said.
The list of personnel changes also included hiring Richard Oliver as the new head football coach and athletic director. Oliver is head football coach at Ferriday High School.
The board voted June 12 to transfer athletic director duties from teacher Gary Mitchell to the then-vacant position of head football coach.
Robert Raines, who had been Baker’s football coach, resigned in May.
Other matters before the board included:
LSBA LAWSUIT: The board voted 4-1 to support the Louisiana School Boards Association lawsuit challenging the state Legislature’s Senate Concurrent Resolution 99 and Act 2 of 2012. Watson, Davis, Carpenter and Boxie voted in favor of the resolution.
Alexander abstained.
Davis said schools would lose $6,000 for each student who decides to leave the public system for a private or charter school as a result of the legislation pushed by the administration of Gov. Bobby Jindal.
The LSBA expects the litigation to cost $100,000 and is working to enlist school boards around the state in joining the lawsuit and contribute to the cost, attorney Winston DeCuir said. About 22 school boards have signed on, he said.