INDReporter

Behind the scenes with the anti-Cooper crowd

by Patrick Flanagan

With the Lafayette Parish School Board set to make public the results of its evaluation of Superintendent Dr. Pat Cooper on Wednesday, some members have been jockeying behind-the-scenes for his ouster.

With the Lafayette Parish School Board set to make public the results of its evaluation of Superintendent Dr. Pat Cooper on Wednesday, some members have been jockeying behind-the-scenes for his ouster.

Photo by Robin May

Dr. Pat Cooper

Cooper's evaluation was originally scheduled for the board's meeting three weeks ago, but was postponed due to the absence of board member Mark Cockerham. It has since been brought to The IND's attention that some back-door lobbying has been going on among the board, with several unnamed anti-Cooper board members - a list that includes Rae Trahan, Greg Awbrey, Tommy Angelle, Mark Allen Babineaux and Tehmi Chassion - attempting to get a needed two-thirds vote for the super's ouster come Wednesday's meeting.

According to our sources, the lobbying by those anti-Cooper board members has included reaching out to at least two of their fellow board members, Hunter Beasley and Board President Shelton Cobb. Though we are unsure where Beasley stands on the matter (his voting record has gone both ways in recent months, most notably with his vote in favor of Cooper's reprimand), Cobb, we hear, has no plans for pulling his support from the superintendent.

We spoke Monday with Cobb, who says he's been contacted in the past by the anti-Cooper faction, though he wouldn't specify when.

"I imagine they will try anybody they can to get the sixth vote, but as far as my appreciation of the situation, I don't think they can get it," Cobb tells The IND.