Even as finalists Kevin George and Andrea Zayas spent nearly eight hours Monday trying to persuade community members that they are the right choice to lead the East Baton Rouge Parish school system, representatives of three employee groups issued an ultimatum.
“We will not be silent and we will not be complicit,” said Valencea Johnson, president of the parish’s chapter of the Association of Educators teacher union. “We will not be there on Aug. 8 if Adam Smith is not appointed as superintendent of the East Baton Rouge Parish school system.”
Smith, a 28-year veteran of the school district, made an early exit from the search on June 28 when he fell one vote short of being named a finalist himself. Smith has been interim superintendent since January.
