Today the Orleans Parish School Board has a new superintendent, but no board member to fill an empty seat.
Tuesday night the School Board unanimously approved a contract for Henderson Lewis Jr., and ended an almost three year search for a new superintendent.
Lewis previously served as superintendent for East Feliciana Parish. He says his main priority is uniting the School Board and Recovery School District to serve all students.
"At the end of the day, they're all the students of New Orleans and we have a responsibility to educate each and every one of them," Lewis said. "And so I will work very hard to work along with the Recovery School District to co-lead education here in New Orleans."
The board also nominated two candidates to fill Ira Thomas' empty seat until a special election this fall. Thomas resigned after he was charged with accepting a bribe.
But board members couldn't agree on a candidate. They repeatedly cast a tied vote, then tabled the decision. If they don't decide soon, Governor Bobby Jindal gets to appoint an interim member.
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