Pastorek and Guice split the sheets over school board legislation

In what Advocate reporter Will Sentell calls an "unusual split," the president of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is openly opposing Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek's plan to overhaul the rules governing Louisiana's local school boards.


As reported earlier in EdLog, the state board declined to endorse Pastorek's package, opting instead to open a dialog with the Louisiana School Boards Association about the proper role of school board members.

Pastorek continued without the support of his own board, working with State Rep. Steve Carter (R-Baton Rouge) on bills that would:

• Impose term limits on local school board members
• Ban board members from influencing employment decisions
• Require a two-thirds supermajority vote before boards can hire or fire superintendents
• Prohibit school board members from participating in district health insurance plans
• Reduce the pay that board members can receive

Today's news widens the breech between Pastorek and his board. BESE President Keith Guice of Monroe told the reporter that he personally opposes each and every one of the proposals.