Breaux Bridge – The St. Martin School Board will begin advertising in local, area and state newspapers for applicants to succeed Superintendent Richard Lavergne.

Lavergne, who has held the parish’s top education job since April 2007, announced earlier this summer that he plans to retire on June 30, 2013.

“I think we should have an appointment know by the end of February for a smooth transition,” board president Jimmy Blanchard suggested during last week’s monthly board meeting.

District 9 representative Floyd Knott recommended, and board members unanimously agreed, to seek applicants through advertisements in the Teche News, the Daily Iberian,

the Daily Advertiser and The Advocate.

With the deadline for applications set for the end of September, the staff would then have at least a full month to verify the credentials of applicants, with interviews to be conducted in November and/or December.

APPOINTMENTS

At last week’s meeting Lavergne announced several administrative appointments and contract renewals, including:

•Denise Frederick, reappointed principal of Breaux Bridge Jr. High;

•Eileen Rowe, reappointed assistant principal at Cecilia Jr. High.

Appointment of:

•Mary Elizabeth Thibeaux-Clay, principal of St. Martinville Jr. High;

•Kevin Dugas, assistant principal, St. Martinville Sr. High;

•Lydia Capdepon, assistant principal, Breaux Bridge Primary;

•Devin Baltazar, assistant principal, JCEP/PAC;

•Corky Matthews, dean of students, St. Martinville Sr. High.

In other personnel matters, the board:

•Amended its personnel policy to comply with Act 788 of the 2012 Legislature which enables employees to participate in a “sick leave bank.” This allows each employee to donate up to five sick days per school year for use by other needy employees within their employee class – teachers, administrators, school bus operators and all other full-time employees.

•Authorized the hiring of a second counselor at Cecilia High School.