Committee recommends appointing junior‑high principal at Opelousas High to support 7–8 student transition

The superintendent (S6) asked the committee to authorize the appointment of a junior‑high principal to lead the 7–8 population that will be housed at Opelousas High for the upcoming school year. He said the early appointment would allow shadowing, planning and program continuity while the incumbent principal continues in place until retirement.

Board members expressed divergent views: some argued a second principal is necessary to provide focused support for middle‑school students and the complex social needs that accompany that age, while others recommended alternative structures—such as a dean or an assistant principal—so the campus would not have two co‑equal principals. Supporters noted recent improvements in the junior‑high campus climate and relationships with the community; skeptics urged consistency across campuses and careful attention to salary and staffing equity.

After discussion, the committee voted to recommend appointing a junior‑high principal to the full board and instructed the superintendent to present implementation details to ensure coordination with the Opelousas High principal and campus leadership.

What happens next: the full board will consider the personnel recommendation and any salary indexing or transition plans at its next meeting.