Taylor takes over as school board president

CENTERVILLE–St. Mary Parish School Board elected new officers Thursday during its monthly meeting.

The new board president is Michael Taylor, of District 8 and serving as vice president is William “Bill” McCarty of District 9. The term of office is two years.

Taylor previously served as board vice president.

Outgoing president Ginger Griffin said before nominating Taylor for the presidential seat that serving as president was an honor and privilege.

In other developments, the administration is in no hurry to fill some vacant positions.

The principal positons at Patterson High and Patterson Junior High are currently filled by interim appointees. Human Resources Director Ricky Armelin retired last month, and a temporary successor is in place there, too.

Board member Kenneth Alfred asked if there was a timeline for filling the positions.

Superintendent Leonard Armato plans to address acting positions toward the end of the school year.

His concern is not to disrupt the spring semester with the hiring because it would interfere with end-of-the-year testing.

In other news, Bayou Vista Elementary is one of six schools in the state to be nominated as a Blue Ribbon School, Armato said.

Schools will be closed Monday for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.