APSB cancels meeting to vote on superintendent

Published 1:59 pm Friday, June 2, 2023

A special school board meeting scheduled for Monday to attempt to break a deadlock vote to elect a new superintendent of schools for Allen Parish is canceled, the district announced Friday.

According to an email from the School Board’s secretary Melinda Karam, that was sent to the school board members on Friday, Board President Kevin Tyler canceled the special meeting scheduled for June 5.

Tyler, who was traveling Friday, told the American Press the meeting was canceled due to some scheduling conflicts. The board will reconvene at its regular meeting at 5 p.m. on Monday, June 12.

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The school board has been at an impasse over who will fill the superintendent’s seat following three meetings and six paper ballot votes in May.

With eight school districts, the board continues to be in a four-to-four stalemate between the district’s Child Welfare, Attendance and Transportation Supervisor Kenney Courville of Kinder and Secondary Supervisor of Instruction and Assessment Brad Soileau of Oakdale.

Board members Pete Cavenah, Greg Monceaux, Carolyn Manuel and Kevin Tyler have cast their votes in support of Courville while Sally Moreaux, Cathy Farris, Karen Reed and Carleen Mahfaffey favor Soileau.

The candidates are seeking to replace outgoing Superintendent Kent Reed, who announced in February that he would retire June 30. Reed has said he will retire whether or not the board has a new superintendent in place.

During a May 24 meeting, which ended with a sixth deadlock vote, board members said they would take the issue to the public in hopes of helping the board make a final decision.