School Board members gave unanimous approval to the employment contract for Superintendent Allen Blanchard Jr. during a brief meeting last Wednesday, April 3.
The contract runs from March 13, 2019 through June 30, 2021 and includes a base salary of $138,500.
Board member Mark Hebert of Dist. 10 questioned Blanchard regarding the salary amount, asking Blanchard if he was satisfied.
“I’ve contacted other (area) districts.” Blanchard answered. “Some pay more, some pay less. Our employees are basically on par (in pay) with other parishes and what I’ve requested (in the contract) is basically on par also.”
Blanchard will also receive any salary supplements paid to the system’s professional employees from sales tax revenues and continue on the group medical plan.
His salary will be increased two percent each July providing his annual evaluation is satisfactory and performance targets are reached.
Blanchard will also receive a $200 per month car allowance for in-parish travel and the board agrees to pay his dues for membership in professional and civic organizations.
The contract also calls for board members to give the superintendent a written evaluation annually, no later than May of each year.
Among the performance targets set forth in the contract to be reached by the end of the 2019-20 school year
are an increase of two percent in the high school graduation rate, a decrease of two percent in the high school dropout rate and increases of 10 points in the School Performance Scores of Breaux Bridge Primary, Elementary and Jr. High, Catahoula Elementary, Cecilia Jr. High, the Early Learning Center and St. Martinville Primary and Jr. High, as well as the District Performance Score.
Group Health
Premiums and co-pays for the district’s group health insurance program will remain unchanged during the coming fiscal year following action taken by the board.
Consultants handling the program initially recommended the board approve a modest increase in co-pay charges to employees in order to keep premiums from rising.
But board members balked and voted to maintain current co-pay levels.
Board CFO Casey Broussard said the board will likely have to transfer approximately $128,000 from its general fund surplus to the group health account to cover the savings that would have been realized by raising co-pays.
