By Leah Schwarting

VIDALIA — Tempers flared at the Concordia Parish School Board meeting Thursday night as the board and parents discussed the reassignment of school principals.

Last week, a group of residents calling themselves the Vidalia Parents requested that they be put on the agenda and that an attorney be brought so that they could discuss their concerns. The board agreed, and a special meeting was planned for June 18.

The group opposes a decision to reassign school administration officials, including Vidalia High School Principal Rick Brown, who was among the crowd during the meeting.

Brown was reassigned to Ferriday Lower Elementary after 17 years as principal at Vidalia High.

“He gave us a lot,” Vidalia Parents Representative Paul Cangemi said. “Let’s give him a couple more years and let him retire.”

The decision to reassign officials was made by Concordia Parish School Board Superintendent Paul Nelson. The Vidalia Parents came forward asking to reverse the decision, and if Nelson could be removed from office.

“I don’t believe everybody agrees with what Dr. Nelson says,” Cangemi said. “I just don’t believe that.”

Cangemi was concerned that all of the Louisiana educational state standards were not being followed.

However, when Cangemi began talking about how it is expected that a superintendent would be ethical, Concordia Parish School Board Member Raymond Riley Sr. interrupted.

“You’ve gone beyond a limit, and you’ve crossed a line,” Riley said.

It was a phrase he repeated when Cangemi later began reading the definition of the word “bully.”

Jon Guice, a lawyer from Hammonds, Sills, Adkins & Guice was there to represent the board and answer questions. During his discussion with Cangemi, Guice said the moves did not have to be based on any performance reviews.

Guice also emphasized that the power to move personnel rests solely with the superintendent and that the board could not interfere.

“When it comes to the personnel decisions, the superintendent makes those decisions,” Guice said.

However, Board Member John Bostic said Nelson was not the only one responsible for the moves. He said board members had input, too.

“We did not make a decision, but we had concerns that we brought to him before the decision was made,” Bostic said.

Board Member Ricky Raven objected, saying he had never brought forth a concern.

“I know better than that,” Bostic replied to Raven.

After emphasizing he had voted no on extending  Nelson’s contract and that they had been informed of the personnel changes at the very end of an earlier personnel meeting, a brief argument occurred.

At the end of Thursday night’s meeting, Board Member Fred Butcher moved to take the concerns under advisement.

“The decisions that have been made are going to sit for this year,” Riley said. “There is nothing that we can do about that.”

After the meeting, Brown said he appreciated the support, but would not elaborate.

“I know the law, so that’s it,” Brown said.

Nelson, though silent throughout most of the meeting, said afterward that the principals have already started working at their new schools and focus needs to be on the 2015-2016 school year.

“I think that if everyone would sit back and relax I think that these moves will be positive moves,” Nelson said.