Union Parish School Board hosts meet and greet to select superintendent

UNION PARISH, La. (KNOE) - The Union Parish School Board met on October 14 for a meet and greet with Dr. Cathy Stockton and Scott Canady who applied for the superintendent of schools position.

This comes after former superintendent Cynthia Gatson resigned in August.

Canady currently serves as the director of personnel and secondary education at Bienville Parish School Board.

Dr. Stockton was the former superintendent at Richland Parish School Board.

During the meeting, stakeholders brought forward information regarding a petition created by people within the parish that called for the superintendent selection process to be restarted.

This would have allowed the other four candidates who also applied for the position to be interviewed as well as Dr. Stockton and Canady.

The other four candidates were Roy Higgins, Arlana Lewin, Adam Pugh and Crystal Washington.

Over 1,000 signatures were collected on the petition.

In response to the petition, a motion was called by Ms. Eula Collins, who serves for district eight, to review all six candidates again who had applied for the job.

However, the motion failed in a six to three vote.

Fred Carr, who serves as the president of an organization called Concerned Citizens of Union, said there are a number of issues with the school district including low student enrollment, low school performance scores and lack of trust between the community and the board.

Carr emphasized the importance of selecting a new superintendent.

“We need someone who not only believes in the community but believes in our kids. Our kids can learn and can do better and that’s what we want here in Union Parish,” said Carr.

A new superintendent will be selected on October 21 at the next board meeting at Union Parish High School.