The Evangeline Parish School Board held a special meeting tonight in that it was the last meeting for Superintendent, Toni Hamlin.  Assistant Superintendent, Darwin Lazard, was recently voted into the position and will take the lead at the beginning of January.  Hamlin resigned from her position after 10 years to spend more time with her family.  Board Vice President, Scott Limoges, pointed out that from his experience “it is rare for a Superintendent to stay in that position for that long.  Thank you for your service.”  President, Wayne Dardeau, presented Hamlin with a plaque and said a few words.  He thanked her many times for her work and said he was “proud of where she has brought the parish.”

Ms. Hamlin spoke to the Board and thanked them for working with her and taking recommendations from her staff.  She said she thought Mr. Lazard was the clear choice.  “He is capable, a man of integrity, and he will lead the Parish” Hamlin stated before she hugged him and became a little teary eyed.  She asked the Board to stay focused on why “we are here.”  We may not always agree, but if you stay focused on the future of the students, that’s what’s important.  Hamlin has been in education since 1972 when she became a teacher at Chataignier Elementary.  Of all of her positions, she stated the one closest to her heart was when she was in a Child Welfare position.

Stay tuned to Ms. Hamlin’s last Let’s Talk About It on KVPI Thursday at 12:30 p.m. when Mark will be talking with both Hamlin and Mr. Lazard about the future of Evangeline Parish Schools. 

The Board voted on officers for 2017 and kept Wayne Dardeau as President, Scott Limoges as Vice President and keep the Executive Committee the same, except for replacing Arthor Savoy with Georgianna Wilson.