By JESSICA DAIGLE

Staff Reporter

RESERVE — A motion to allow the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board to take a step in the direction of Superintendent Michael Coburn’s contract extension failed by one vote at the board meeting Thursday night.

Board member Dowie Gendron motioned to waive policy that calls for the board to wait 60 days before voting on a measure that has failed. On April 28, the board voted against approving a contract extension for Coburn, but Coburn’s contract expires on June 30.

Rules also call for a two-thirds vote to waive policy, which in this board’s case would be eight of the 11 members. Gendron’s motion failed 7-4, with members Matthew Ory, Keith Jones, Clarence Triche, and Russell Jack against the motion. The four members have consistently voted in opposition to Coburn.

There has been division in the board for months regarding Coburn’s contract. At a meeting on Mar. 31, the board voted 8-3 to allow the executive committee to go into negotiations with Coburn, prompting most to believe that Coburn would be serving as superintendent for another three years.

However, in later meetings, after Coburn met with the executive committee several times, board members were effectively able to stop several motions to allow contract matters to be discussed, leaving the state of the contract at a stall.

After the meeting adjourned, Board President Gerald Keller said the board’s only option now is to call a special meeting before Coburn’s contract expires, if they cannot acquire that eighth vote.

He said he thought one board member of the faction of four would change his vote, but he never committed to it.

Jones said though it was obvious the board is split, he thinks it is going to eventually come together to be able to make a decision.

“I’m willing to compromise if it’s within reason, but I think the system is being held hostage right now in terms of the superintendent,” he said.

Jones also expressed dissatisfaction that the issue, which was not on the agenda, lacked public participation, a view that Matthew Ory was also vocal about after the meeting. “It was a mistake to bring this up because the public had no clue,” Ory said, “and our main function as a board member is (representing the public).”

However, Russ Wise expressed frustration over the outcome of the vote, and deemed it as “unfortunate, but playing by the rules. All this is doing is prolonging uncertainty and continuing upheaval,” Wise said.