(The Center Square) — The East Baton Rouge school board selected LaMont Cole this week as the next superintendent for the parish after a months-long search.
Cole, formerly the East Baton Rouge mayor pro tem, was a name that routinely popped up as a likely choice for superintendent. Late Tuesday night, he confirmed that he intended to officially apply for the position.
This decision comes after a warning letter from the Louisiana Board of Education released Monday regarding the superintendent selection impasse that lasted months as board members couldn’t agree on a selection.
State superintendent Cade Brumley’s assertion that he and BESE would take over the search if a pick was not made Wednesday helped ensure a quick interview process for Cole.
The East Baton Rouge school board met on July 18 to resolve the search for the district’s next superintendent. The meeting went on for nine hours, ending at 2 A.M. the next morning, with no progress made.
That prompted Brumley’s letter, which promised state intervention with sentences like, “With respect for your elected role, my allegiance lies with students who deserve much better than the collective leadership you’re providing.”
The board of education backed the state superintendent.
“BESE is coordinating closely with Dr. Brumley, lawmakers and the Attorney General’s office to confirm all options available to the state should a resolution not be reached,” the statement said.
With the school board trying to fit six months of work into a couple of hours, Cole ended up being the only applicant who was interviewed Wednesday. Adam Smith, the interim superintendent for six months, will be the new deputy superintendent.
The struggle to find the man/woman for the job is in part because the three finalists for the position withdrew their applications.
Andrea Zayas, one of the finalists and the former chief academic officer of the Boston (Mass.) school system, submitted a withdrawal letter that said the possibility of success is “near non-existent,” given the disorder in Louisiana’s second-largest school district.
The East Baton Rouge board also decided against extending the current contract for Adam Smith in a vote of 5-4.
WAFB reported that Dr. Sito Narcisse, the previous permanent superintendent who stepped down in Jan. 2024 after his contract wasn’t extended, put his name in the ring with a letter of interest.
In the end Cole proved to be the top candidate and Brumley released a new statement supporting the decision that was finally made.
“I’m encouraged by the board’s decision to come together around a new superintendent,” Brumley said.
