According to The Daily Advertiser, Vermilion Parish School Board Superintendent Jerome Puyau has filed a lawsuit against the school board and four of its members.
The 47 page lawsuit claims the board and the four named members violated his civil rights when the board suspended him twice and tried to remove him from office.
The school board members named in the lawsuit are current members Laura LeBeouf, Kibbie Pillette, and David Dupuis, and former member Sara Duplechain.
This is the latest in a series of events that include the school board voting to place Puyau on leave, a judge saying the board could not place him on leave, and Puyau showing up to work in spite of the vote.
The Advertiser reports that the board's lawyer, Ty Manieri, said members "would not be commenting on the lawsuit because it is a personnel matter."
In July, the board voted to place Puyau on administrative leave while he was investigated on several accusations, including:
-Hiring administrative personnel who do not meet the qualifications for the position outlined in Board-approved job description
-Failing to put items on Board agendas as requested by Board members, in violation of Board policy and District Court orders
and more.
The Advertiser says that the petition was filed in the Vermilion Parish 15th Judicial District Court and the board hold a special meeting on Monday, where they will receive a report of the case. A preliminary injunction will be held in a few weeks.
"Since signing his new contract in January of 2018, Puyau has been involved in five lawsuits with the board, according to the filing," reports the paper.
A hearing for the preliminary injunctions has been set for Tuesday.
Read more from The Advertiser here and read some of KATC's articles about the school board and Puyau here and here.
KATC has the latest on this and much more on tonight's 10 p.m. newscast. Watch that live stream below.
