School Board to vote on superintendent applicant
LIVINGSTON — The Livingston Parish School Board, sitting as a committee of the whole Thursday, recommended Assistant Superintendent John Watson for the superintendent post following the retirement of Superintendent Bill Spear.
The full School Board will vote on the recommendation Nov. 8.
Watson is one of three candidates vying for the spot. The other candidates are Charles Michel, special education supervisor for Lafourche Parish schools; and Donna Alleman, outreach director for the Louisiana Schools for the Deaf and Visually Impaired.
None of the candidates were present for the committee’s discussion or vote.
The committee’s vote Thursday was 7-0, with board members Milton Hughes absent and James Watson recused.
James Watson is the brother of John Watson.
John Watson’s contract, if approved by the full board, would begin Feb. 14, upon the official retirement of Spear, and run through Dec. 31, 2016.
Spear’s last working day with the district will be Nov. 9.
The committee also voted 7-0 to recommend that Watson serve as interim superintendent from Nov. 10 to Feb. 13.
Other business before the School Board included:
TECHNICAL COLLEGE: The full board voted unanimously to support the Livingston Economic Development Council’s exploration into the possibility of bringing a technical college to Livingston Parish.
State Rep. J. Rogers Pope, R-Denham Springs, appeared before the board on LEDC’s behalf. Pope, who formerly served as the school system superintendent, said the council has met with stakeholders, including area legislators, businesses and representatives from Baton Rouge Community College, Southeastern Louisiana University and others.
LEDC will not ask the School Board to put up any money for the project, but would like the board to consider allowing the prospective school to be built on school district property, Pope said.
The current proposal, which could change after review, is to build two buildings and a 60- to 70-space parking lot, he said.
The final agreement would have to come back to the School Board for official approval.