Parish’s top principals recognized

Joe Stadalis, Suzanne Bergeron and Tybus Burdett were named St. Mary Parish principals of the year Thursday.
The principals, representing elementary, middle school and high school, respectively, were recognized during the monthly meeting of the St. Mary Parish School Board.
Stadalis is principal of J.S. Aucoin in Amelia and is one of 15 principals competing for Louisiana Principal of the Year, which will be announced in July. He has been principal of Aucoin for 13 years.
Bergeron has been principal of Patterson Junior High for three years. Prior to that, she served six years as an instructional specialist at the Central Office Complex.
Burdett has been principal of Franklin High for 11 years. Prior to that, he was assistant principal of B.E. Boudreaux in Baldwin for three years.
Meanwhile, the St. Mary Parish School Board on Thursday handled several items relating to the close of the school year.
Another school resource officer was added to the ranks. Karla Cornes was hired, through contracted service with Sheriff Mark Hebert, effective April 28.
Numerous resignations and retirements, including several teachers, were announced across the parish. Superintendent Donald Aguillard said several interview dates are upcoming during May for positions including summer school staff, replacements for the at-risk interventionist and social studies program manager positions, curriculum facilitators for schools and at least three assistant principal spots.
LEAP and iLEAP scores should be available May 16, with summer school beginning May 28, Aguillard said.
There are 549 anticipated graduates across St. Mary Parish with ceremonies scheduled for next week. At each school, the number of graduates is: Morgan City, 136; Berwick, 114; Patterson, 96; Franklin, 89; West St. Mary, 80; and Centerville, 34.
A budget workshop for the 2014-15 fiscal year is scheduled at 2 p.m. June 17.
In other action Thursday, the board:
—Unanimously approved a one-day suspension without pay for text messages sent from a personal cellphone by a teacher. The board approved the suspension without member Bill McCarty who stepped out of the room to take a phone call.
—Adopted tax millages for 2014 with no public comment being received.
—Approved an act of sale for property at 1125 First St. in Patterson, adjacent to the area where the new school will be constructed. Board member Marilyn LaSalle abstained from the vote because she said she was related to a person involved in the deal.
—Approved a change order by Bonneval Construction Company for the Morgan City High School library project in the amount of $21,490 for changes including the addition of a restroom and rebuilding a wall on the second floor.