Louisiana looking for new superintendent to oversee special schools

BATON ROUGE, La.— Louisiana’s launching a national search for a new superintendent to manage the state’s schools for deaf, blind and special education students, fter report commissioned by the state education department found the schools needed leadership with more expertise.

The schools are combined into what is called the Special School District.

Beyond hiring a new leader, Superintendent of Education John White wants a management group to review the district’s organizational and financial structure. He also expects the new superintendent to provide regular updates to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

“With a new vision, the (district) can be a national leader in addressing the needs of some of our most vulnerable learners,” White said in a statement.

The Advocate reports that Monte Burke, the current superintendent, said in an email he will remain in his $120,000-per-year post until the school year’s end.

The district oversees the Louisiana School for the Deaf, Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired and the Louisiana Special Education Center. The schools for the deaf and visually impaired are in Baton Rouge. The special education center is in Alexandria, serving students with mental impairments and orthopedic problems.