The St. Martin School Board and former Superintendent Dr. Lottie Beebe have apparently reached a settlement following the termination of her employment earlier this month.
Details of the agreement have not been released but Mark Boyer, the board’s legal adviser, says the board has “agreed in principle” to a settlement “to avoid expected litigation costs. That resolution would result in Dr. Beebe being placed on administrative leave with pay until her retirement next year.”
Beebe’s attorney, Lane Roy of Lafayette, has estimated the cost of the settlement would be “about $150,000” for Beebe’s pay and benefits through June 30, 2019, plus $10,000 in attorney fees.
Boyer said he did not believe Roy’s estimate of the cost to the school system to be accurate, indicating that the board will have to review the specific details of the settlement and ratify it before it becomes final.
Beebe did not respond to a request for her comments.
In addition to the salary agreement, the settlement also called for the board to issue a statement clarifying its action regarding Beebe’s dismissal.
The 325-word release, issued by board president Burton Dupuis “on behalf of the board” recapped the action taken against Beebe at its Sept. 5 meeting, pointing out that Beebe had previously indicated she would retire at the expiration of her contract (June 30,2018).
“However,” the statement continued, “there were some who requested her continued service ... partly because of an ongoing and active desegregation case and a myriad of bond projects to be completed.
“The vote executed on Sept. 5 was not indicative or the result of any performance review or evaluation, and it certainly was not a termination of employment for cause.”
The statement went on to praise Beebe’s performance during her tenure as superintendent (since July 2013), pointing out improvements in school assessment results and gains in the parish’s graduation index.
“Nevertheless,” the statement concludes, “the board has been at an impasse for nearly a year on whether or not to renew Dr. Beebe’s contract ... The board believed it was time to move forward with a successor ... Dr. Beebe has had a long, successful and accomplished career as an educator and administrator (and) thanks her for her service, and apologizes to all involved for any confusion or miscommunication regarding the status of (her) contract.”
Although it was not an agenda item, immediately after voting to terminate Beebe’s employment at their Sept. 5 meeting, the board named Al Blanchard, director of human capital and operations, interim superintendent.
The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 3, and no plans for a special session to set the details of Blanchard’s employment or to plan for a permanent replacement, or act on Beebe’s settlement have been announced.
