Puyau Named In Lawsuit Brought By Vermilion School Board Members

The four members of the Vermilion Parish School Board that voted to censure Vermilion Parish School Board President Stacy Landry Monday have filed a lawsuit against Superintendent of Schools Jerome Puyau.

Puyau says he was served with papers Tuesday (Dec 4) concerning the suit that was brought about by the same four members of the school board that voted to suspend him from his job.

Laura LeBeouf, Sara Duplechain, Kibbie Pillette, and Dr. David Dupius are the same four members that voted to censure Landry on Monday and walked out of a school board meeting because of Puyau's presence just a few weeks ago.

The lawsuit seeks "A verified petition for declaratory and injunctive relief" according to a report filed by KATC's Justice Henderson. When asked by KATC for comments about the legal action only Kibbie Pillette responded by saying that his name was on the lawsuit because the Superintendent has no business conducting business.

This is just the latest in an ongoing saga that has been 2018 for Vermilion Parish Schools. Last January the school board made national headlines when a teacher was forcibly removed from a meeting and arrested. Later in August, the School Board voted to suspend Puyau from his duties, although confirmation of allegations of misconduct or wrongdoing have yet to surface.

Puyau was returned to office last month after a hearing officer found there was no reason for him to be suspended. This lead to Puyau's return, the board member walkout, and now a lawsuit against the Superintendent.

Superintendent Puyau is expected to go to court later this month in connection with the lawsuit. Meanwhile, Puyau says he hopes the new board will come into office in January ready to go to work.