1 week Ago
ARCADIA, La. – Bienville Parish schools Superintendent Byron Lyons has been placed on leave pending an investigation for an unknown reason. The board voted 5 to 2 during a special meeting Tuesday afternoon to place Lyons on leave with pay for up to 90 days.
Additionally, the board appointed child welfare and attendance Supervisor LeRoy Hamilton as acting superintendent and hired Baton Rouge attorney Brandon DeCuir to conduct an investigation. The board met in executive session before voting. Board members Sharolyn Boston, Derrika Bailey, Martha Grigg, Colton Guin and Donald Calloway voted in favor of the investigation, while Darren Iverson and Oswald Townsend voted against.
No information about what prompted the investigation was disclosed. Lyons and his attorney, Brian Blackwell, attended the meeting. Lyons did not speak, while his attorney made a few observations about the process.
Should the board decide to move forward with removing Lyons, it will have to present him with formal written charges and give him a 20-day notice. Lyons then has 20 days to respond prior to a hearing. The School Board selected Lyons as superintendent in December 2023 after it chose not to renew the contract of its former superintendent, William Wysinger.
Lyons got the nod over three other candidates. The 30-year educator is a native of northeast Louisiana and was working as a principal in Lafayette Parish when he was hired. He called Tallahassee his home but said he wanted to move back closer to home.
The School Board approved Lyons’ employment contract in January 2024. KTBS reached out to Lyons via his cell phone. The call was not answered and a message left on his voicemail has not been returned.
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