EPSB celebrates Dr. Deshotel’s decades of service

Tuesday’s Evangeline Parish School Board meeting was filled with celebration of the 45 years that Doctor Bobby Deshotel has served on the school board for this parish. “Just to keep things in perspective, I want you all to know that we have two school board members serving on this board that were not even born when Doctor Bobby first took office,” Board President Wayne Dardeau said. “That is a pretty amazing feat.”
After the approval of the minutes, Louisiana School Board Association President Scott Richard approached the podium to recognize Doc’s accomplishment. Richard said, “It is with great honor that tonight I am here to honor you for your service. We are here tonight to tell you thank you.”
Dr. Bobby was first appointed to the school board in 1969 and then he was elected to the position in 1970 making Dr. Bobby the longest serving school board member in the entire state of Louisiana. This is monumental because there “will never be a board member to serve this long.” Dardeau said, “School board members can only serve a total of 12 years now.”
As Dr. Bobby accepted his plaque at the meeting, he thanked the people who have made his time serving on the board possible. “I want to thank everyone here tonight, the school board members I have served with over the years, the people that have allowed me to stay on this board, and my teachers and principals at the Basile schools,” Dr. Bobby said.
With tears in his eyes, Dr. Bobby also gave a special thank you to the person he says is the main reason he has been successful. “When you find a successful man, there is going to be a woman behind him that is the reason for that success. That woman for me is my wife of 63 years, Joella.”
Before moving on to other items on the agenda, Dr. Bobby said, “I compare my time on the school board to a roller coaster ride, but today the roller coaster has stopped with this board. This has been one of the best boards I have served on.”
Other major items on the agenda which were all unanimously approved were:
•Resolution to be considered for adoption calling a bond election, Saturday, November 21, 2015 for school district No. seven of the second police jury ward of the Parish of Evangeline, Louisiana and the seventh police jury ward of the Parish of Acadia.
•Approval of 2015-2016 pupil progression plan.
•Approval of insurance renewal for general liability.
•Approve low quote of $5,150.00 from E.L.E. Construction, LLC for drainage ditch at BCE using parish wide maintenance funds.
•Approval of a requisition to Detel in the amount of $8,190.00 for 10 desktop computers for Social Skills Alternative Academic Center (SSAAC) per state contract using General Fund for five and IDEA Fund for five.
•Approval to pay bills.