Vermilion Parish educators are speaking out today after school board members decided to place Superintendent Jerome Puyau on paid administrative leave. 

Jason Harrington, a teacher in Vermilion Parish, disagrees with the board’s decision and believes Superintendent Puyau should be allowed to stay. 

Harrington says, “If the investigation is actually documented in a factual way, it should be that we can move past it with Superintendent Puyau staying in the office.” 

A retired Vermilion Parish teacher, who wanted to remain anonymous, is in favor of Superintendent leaving.  

“I believe it was a good decision by the board. I think that the contract when it was given to him in January… it was done in an improper way.” 

After seeing what was on the agenda, Harrington went to the meeting last night to express his experiences with being in the school system.  

“If there’s an opportunity for there to be an investigation and it’s an honest investigation, well that’s great because I think they’re going to see exactly what’s there. And they’re going to see exactly what a lot of us who have been working with are seeing,” Harrington explains. 

There are both positive and negative feelings about the school board decision last night. 

“Teachers have talked about how he’s very intimidating. They’re afraid to talk to him about anything because he always make sure that everyone knows that he’s the boss and it’s his way or no way.” 

Harrington adds, “I think he’s done a wonderful job… mainly with getting resources and training in where it needs to be.” 

Now Superintendent Jerome Puyau will be placed on paid administrative leave until the investigation is complete.