In what was an obvious conflict of interest, then Caddo Heights school principal Cleveland Mouton announced in late June that he was going to run for the Caddo School Board this fall to replace the termed-out Mary Trammell after several so-called powers that be selected him to run.
Settletalk published the column below on July 7 regarding the conflict of Mouton being on the school board payroll while running for the school board seat.
Mouton has just posted on Face Book that he is retiring and touting his accomplishments as principal.
His retirement precludes planned legal action to have a Caddo court declare a conflict of interest and to require him to retire or drop his school board campaign.
And who said that here is no local power of the press!
IS IT A CONFLICT FOR CADDO SCHOOL PRINCIPAL TO RUN FOR SCHOOL BOARD
Mary Trammell is the Caddo School Board representative for District 6.
Trammell has served three consecutive terms and cannot seek re-election this fall.
Caddo Heights, Eden Gardens Fundamental Magnet, Caddo Middle Magnet, Atkins Elementary, Woodlawn High School, Caddo Career Center, and Caddo Middle Career & Technology School are in District 6.
Reportedly Caddo Heights principal Cleveland Mouton has been recruited by Trammell and Peaceful Rest Baptist Church minister Tim Jones to run for this school board seat. Dana Fergins-Hawthorne has also announced for this seat.
If elected Mouton will be required to resign from school board employment.
How involved the parents of Caddo Heights students become involved in this election, --either by choice, parent peer pressure, or school politics concerning their children-- is an open question.
Additionally, how much Mouton’s political aspirations will affect his discretionary actions as school principal is a potential landmine that could create many problems for the school superintendent Keith Burton and the Caddo School Board, i
Caddo School Board elections are generally low-key with limited constituent involvement and public scrutiny. If Mouton qualities and remains as Caddo Heights principal, one can expect this race to heat up and be the subject of media attention.