Board replaces principal with daughter

ST. FRANCISVILLE — The West Feliciana Parish School Board voted Tuesday to replace Bains Elementary School Principal Dorothy Temple, who plans to retire, with her daughter, Abby Temple Cochran.

Cochran will leave her post as an assistant principal of West Feliciana High School to take over the elementary school for children in second through fifth grades, effective July 1.

Temple has served the school district for 47 years and has been principal at Bains since 1991.

Board member Amanda Temple McKinney, Cochran’s sister, abstained from voting, and board member Sara Wilson-Rogers was absent.

Members Kelly O’Brien, Kevin Beauchamp, David Cornette, James White and Milton Coats voted to approve Cochran’s appointment and several other personnel changes.

Coats and White objected, however, to including agreements with the sheriff for school security and a water usage agreement with the parish fire protection district for approval on the special meeting agenda.

The other board members agreed to postpone acting on the items until the regular meeting next month.

Cochran served two years as an assistant high school principal. The board voted to advertise for applications to fill the high school vacancy.

Superintendent Hollis G. Milton said Bains Elementary should have a “seamless transition” with Cochran replacing her mother.

“I’m very excited to have her at Bains. She is a strong leader,” Milton said.

“She is a product of this system, and has a special way of bringing people together,” he said.