INDReporter

Greg Awbrey's December surprise

by Patrick Flanagan

Lafayette Parish School Board member Greg Awbrey deserves an attaboy for his unexpected vote during Wednesday's meeting approving a mediation session between the board and Superintendent Pat Cooper.

Photo by Robin May

LPSB member Greg Awbrey

Lafayette Parish School Board member Greg Awbrey deserves an attaboy for his unexpected vote during Wednesday's meeting approving a mediation session between the board and Superintendent Pat Cooper.

In a 5-4 decision, Awbrey's vote amounted to a tie-breaker and helped make Cooper's request for a day-long mediation session a reality - the term mediation was swapped for "professional relationship" session by board member Hunter Beasley. Cooper and the board, along with an undetermined number of non-biased mediators will now meet in February in an effort to mend relationships, which comes on the heels of a year-long struggle between the two sides.

Though Awbrey has traditionally been a leader among the board's anti-Cooper crowd, his vote Wednesday night might be a sign of hope.

It's at least a nice little Christmas gift to the students of the parish, who deserve to have the board and super working together and in their best interests.