Livingston School Board Appoints Acting Member to Fill Vacancy in District 8
LIVINGSTON, La. – The Livingston Parish School Board has appointed long-time educator, basketball coach and school administrator Norman Picou to serve as the acting board member for District 8, following the early departure of board member Frank Parrino.
Parrino recently resigned his seat due to health complications. His term was scheduled to run through the end of the calendar year. Elections for all parish school board seats will be held this fall with elected candidates taking office in January 2023.
The primary election for the school board seats will be held Nov. 8, and the run-off election, if necessary, will be held Dec. 10. Qualification dates for candidates are July 20-22.
“I retired from the system with nearly 35 years of experience in education, including 23 in Livingston Parish. I felt that serving in this temporary capacity would be a way of giving back to the system and helping out District 8 until the voters could choose a new representative,” Picou said, adding that he has no plans to seek election for the open seat.
Picou and his wife Janice Cornett Picou live in Maurepas. The two first met in elementary school at Maurepas.
Picou attended Maurepas School through ninth grade, then transferred to Springfield High School after his mother took a teaching position at that school. He earned his bachelor’s degree in education from Southeastern Louisiana University, where he also played on the college’s men’s basketball team.
During his education career, Picou has served as a teacher, coach, and school administrator, including stints at three state colleges – University of Louisiana at Lafayette (University of Southwestern Louisiana at that time), Southeastern Louisiana University and Southern University. While employed in Livingston Parish, he worked at Doyle High School, Denham Springs Junior High, Juban Parc Junior High, Springfield Middle School, and Springfield High School.
“I was the assistant principal at Juban Parc Junior High School when that school opened. It was exciting to be a part of opening that new school and what that meant to that community,” Picou said. “From there, I was fortunate to be transferred to Springfield Middle School and later to Springfield High School, where I served as principal at both schools.”
“The Livingston Parish School System has been good to me; it has played an integral role in my life, and I’m so glad I can give back in this capacity,” he said.