In a notable reversal of fortune, Adam Smith is expected to return as the interim leader of the East Baton Rouge Parish school system, three years after he was passed over for the permanent spot in favor of an out-of-state educator.
Fast forward three years and that outsider, Sito Narcisse, agreed on Friday to step down and give up running the state’s second-largest traditional school district.
On Saturday, leaders of the parish school board announced that they want Smith to take over, at least temporarily, in the superintendent's office at 1050 South Foster Drive.
“Adam Smith brings experience and focus that will serve our students, teachers, and staff well during this period of transition,†Board President Carla Powell Lewis and Vice President Patrick Martin said in a statement issued Saturday morning.
“He has dedicated his career to educating the children of Baton Rouge and improving equitable access to high quality education,†they continued. “His service as interim superintendent will allow the district to continue to operate with minimal disruption while the Board solidifies its vision for the future of the district and the characteristics needed in the next superintendent.â€
East Baton Rouge has more than 40,000 students and more than 5,000 employees.
In an interview, Smith said he is thankful for the opportunity to lead the school system again until a permanent leader is selected. He said he plans to get to work to help develop a "student-centered" budget that seizes opportunities for improvement as the school district prepares for a potentially fiscally difficult 2024-25 fiscal year.
“I plan to work collaboratively with all nine board members along with the community and staff to ensure we put the resources where they belong," Smith said.
Smith said no final decision has been made on whether he will be eligible for the permanent superintendent position in the future.
“We hadn’t talked in detail about that," Smith said. "Whatever decision is made with that, it would be a mutual agreement.â€
Smith has 27 years of experience with the school system. He spent six years in the classroom before moving to administration. He served as principal of Park Forest Middle School from 2005 to 2008 before moving to Central Office where he has worked ever since. Smith has been called up repeatedly to stabilize schools in turmoil, including serving temporarily as principal of Glen Oaks and Scotlandville high schools.
“My primary goal is it make sure this district is whole and it is progressing," Smith said. "You can call me a company man.â€
The board has scheduled a special meeting for 5 p.m. Tuesday to accept Narcisse’s severance package and to appoint Smith as interim superintendent — that's a day later than the board leaders had said the meeting would occur. If the board agrees, Narcisse would step down immediately to make way for Smith.
State law allows interim superintendents to serve for six months at most. It’s unclear how the board will go about finding a permanent replacement for the outgoing Narcisse.
Smith has served as interim superintendent before, from October 2020 to January 2021. He was a finalist to become permanent superintendent, but the board instead selected Narcisse over him by a 5-4 margin.
Smith has been in administrative exile for the past three years. Narcisse allowed him to keep the title of associate superintendent and to be paid at the level of the top administrators in the district, but otherwise stripped him of much of his previous power. Smith became an administrator over special education, but was not part of Narcisse's cabinet.
Smith said that over time he got to know Narcisse well and appreciates his time working with him.
“We have had a very good working relationship," Smith said. "I wish him well, and I’m sure he is going to do well in his future endeavors.â€
Smith’s short time in charge was prompted by the abrupt resignation of Leslie Brown, who resigned after just two months as superintendent, soon after going on emergency medical leave for an unspecified illness. Smith had been a semifinalist in the search that led to Brown’s hiring but failed to make the final cut.
Smith has risen through the ranks and is well liked by many. He was a top lieutenant of Warren Drake, who served as superintendent from 2015 to 2020. His current salary is $134,732. If approved as interim superintendent, he would get a pay raise, just as he did in 2020, but it’s unclear how much.
Smith said he is not planning to leave East Baton Rouge, whatever happens in the future.
"I have a grandchild who is a student with disabilities in the district, so I’m invested," he said.
Narcisse’s severance agreement, if accepted by the board Tuesday, amounts to a voluntary buyout that cuts short his time in charge. His contract otherwise expires five months from now, on June 30. East Baton Rouge has more than 40,000 students and more than 5,000 employees.
New details of the separation agreement .Ìý would pay Narcisse the remaining salary and benefits of the final five months of his contract along with any unused leave he has. He would not receive money for travel or for attending conferences he would otherwise attend.
Board leaders have yet to release an estimate of the overall cost of the separation agreement. Just the salary portion of the voluntary buyout would mean paying Narcisse $111,000 — the amount due for the 159 days left on his contract. Narcisse’s annual salary is $255,000.
For his part, Narcisse agrees to assist the board on an as-needed consulting basis in “orienting a new superintendent†and to ensure a transition that is “as efficient and smooth as possible.†Narcisse also agrees “to cooperate fully and completely in the defense of any pending lawsuits or claims†arising from his time as superintendent.
Also released Saturday was a short “tentative †to end early Narcisse’s employment as superintendent. It was signed Thursday by Narcisse, Powell-Lewis and Martin. It says that the agreement grew out of discussions between the parties held Wednesday, a day when schools were closed due to icy weather.
Narcisse’s exit was set in motion on Dec. 7 when the parish school board voted 5-4 to reject a proposal to renew his contract for four more years. The contract would have given him a $55,000 pay raise, making him the highest-paid superintendent in Louisiana.
Supporters of Narcisse quickly launched a petition and started a pressure campaign in hopes that the board would reconsider.
Such hopes, however, were dashed this week when Powell-Lewis and Martin informed Narcisse that they had the legally required supermajority of six votes to buy out the superintendent’s contract. It has not been disclosed which board member was willing to be the sixth vote to buy him out.
