Concordia Parish School Board to appoint interim superintendent

Published 12:11 am Monday, December 14, 2015

VIDALIA — Concordia Parish School District officials say they are planning to discuss appointing an interim superintendent Thursday.

The Concordia Parish School Board accepted Superintendent Paul Nelson’s resignation unanimously during its Dec. 10 meeting. Nelson will no longer serve as superintendent effective Jan. 1.

Board members Ricky Raven and John Bostic said they believed the issue of appointing an interim superintendent would be discussed at a special-called board meeting set for 5 p.m. Thursday.

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After appointing an interim superintendent, the board will search for a full-time superintendent. Bostic said he does not think the board will make a decision on an interim superintendent Thursday, though.

“Nothing’s written in stone right now,” Bostic said. “It’s a work in progress.”

Raven said he believes more information will be available after the special meeting.

Nelson said he does not know who will be chosen.

“I wish whoever it is the best of luck,” Nelson said.

Nelson also said he would like to thank the central office staff for their hard work and support over the 10 years he’s worked at the office.

While Nelson would not comment on his reasons for leaving, he said he had no definite plans for what he was going to do after Jan. 1.

“I’ve got some time to make some decisions and my goal is to stay in the Miss-Lou,” Nelson said.

Between working in the central office and in CPSD schools, Nelson has worked in the district for more than 20 years. He was named interim superintendent in May 2012 after Loretta Blankenstein resigned.

A few months later, he was chosen to fill the position on a permanent basis.

The board decided to give him a pay raise in February but only extend his contract by one year instead of the customary three-year extension.

Nelson’s decision to move some district principals for the 2015-2016 school year, including former Vidalia High School Principal Rick Brown, was also the focus of some protests over the past year.