BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) -
Tempers flared, fireworks sparked and emotions were high at Wednesday night's East Baton Rouge Parish School Board meeting. The question many from the public is now asking: What's more important to the board, the children or politics.
"Every person up here cares about the kids in this parish," said Barbara Freiberg, East Baton Rouge Parish School Board.
An emotional Freiberg ended the meeting after the board failed to vote for an interim superintendent. However, parents, teachers and others within the community weren't finished just yet.
"Recall the board! Recall the board! Recall the board!" chanted the public.
Current EBR Superintendent John Dilworth announced last Friday that because of health reasons, Feb. 24 would be his last day. That's four months before his contract was set to expire, which is why the board now needs an interim superintendent. But, when the board presented a motion for Herman Brister, who currently works within the EBRSS, to become interim superintendent, in a 6 - 5 vote, that motion failed.
That only fueled the fire with the board and the public.
"This is awful. It is a total embarrassment to sit here and be a part of this board and be a mockery among the state and our peers," said Board Member Dr. Kenyetta Nelson-Smith.
"Is it the kids that are important or the politics that are important," asked Marcus Lewis of Baton Rouge.
"I want to say to the board, 'Stop the politics,'" said community activist Mary Triplett.
"The school board members, as much as I honor you, you're behaving like children," said Sherwood middle teacher Brent Beatty. "You're losing respect in this community."
"It's a sad day in Baton Rouge," said EBR school board vice-president Tarvald Smith.
All of that came after Dr. Samuel King of Georgia withdrew his name Wednesday afternoon in an email to Freiberg. He was the only finalist named to replace Dr. Dilworth.
"After careful consideration, an additional consultation with my family, I withdraw my candidacy for the position," said Freiberg citing the email from Dr. King.
Because they failed to do so Wednesday night, the board will meet Thursday, February 16, to find an interim superintendent. That's only nine days before they need to have someone in place.
As for the next superintendent, Freiberg suggested starting the search over while others are saying Brister is the man because he's been working within the school board for years now and knows this system best.
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