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The only holdout was board member Nathan Rust who had planned to abstain but "God put it on my heart" and he decided to support Cole: "I will not be a hindrance to your

success." Cole jumped in Tuesday after sitting out the initial round of applications held last month. He immediately rose directly to the top. It was a rushed, 17-hour-long, second

round of applications. Four hours after the application deadline, Cole was selected as the lone finalist and immediately sat for a 90-minute interview. “I’m not remotely interested in

leading a district that is just good,” Cole told board members. “I want our district to be great.” Several board members quickly sang his praises. “I certainly was moved by the passion and

your deep-seated desire to help all of the children in this parish,” said Board Vice President Patrick Martin V. “I certainly share that desire.” “I know your heart and I know that education

is at the forefront of your life,” said board member Shashonnie Steward. “I think it’s wonderful to have someone of Mr. Cole’s caliber fall in our lap at the last minute,” said board member

Mark Bellue. It has been a meteoric, one-day rise for Cole, who has spent 26 years in education in Baton Rouge. The past 13 years have been as chief academic officer for CSAL Inc., a Baton

Rouge-based charter school network. Before that, he spent several years working for the parish school system, including stints as principal at both Capitol and Park Forest middle schools.

"Baton Rouge, this is my home. This is the city I love and I care about it so much,” Cole said, choked up with emotion. In a statement after the vote, Brumley spoke positively of the

board's action Wednesday. “I’m encouraged by the board’s decision to come together around a new superintendent. Choosing a system leader is a core responsibility of a board, but the

true work lies ahead," Brumley said. "Too many students lack a basic education and graduate without the skills to lead a productive life. Too many teaching positions go unfilled.

Too many families are trapped in failing schools. For Louisiana to succeed, we need East Baton Rouge to succeed." Cole’s path to the job was made easier when former Supt. Sito Narcisse

withdrew his application minutes before interviews were to begin. In January, Narcisse accepted a voluntary buyout in January, six weeks after the School Board voted 5-4 to not renew his

contract. Narcisse left three years after he was hired. Adam Smith immediately replaced Narcisse as interim superintendent, but Smith’s six-month contract expired Tuesday, putting the

district into legal uncertainty. If the first superintendent search was a slow, traditional courtship that ended in acrimony, the second was more like a round of speed dating that concluded

in a shotgun marriage. As it turned out, Cole did not have to undergo the weeks of scrutiny that the previous applicants underwent, including a long day of interviews by community panels.

Board members in the end barely looked at résumés submitted by the remaining nine applicants. Instead, the board judged Cole based on a mix of reputation, personal relationships and his

interview. Cole made clear his mission is more than just the 40,000 students enrolled in the school district. "All of the children in this city are our students whether they go to our

schools or not,” Cole said. “If they are eligible to attend one of our schools, we have to be concerned about the education they are receiving wherever they are and we have to be willing to

own that responsibility." Cole’s first job in education was as a teacher at Capital Middle, and he worked there for five years, but he has spent the rest of his time as a school-level

administrator. He also worked as a program director for Young Leaders Academy in Baton Rouge. The biggest hole in his résumé is a lack of experience as a Central Office administrator. In

response to a question from board member Mike Gaudet, Cole said, if hired, he would withdraw immediately from seeking re-election to District 7 this fall and would immediately start the

process of leaving the Metro Council. “I have to do this job and be willing to do this job well,” Cole said. Cole last week qualified for a third term on the Metro Council, but at the last

minute his legislative aide, Twahna Harris, also qualified. The third candidate in the District 7 race is Alfred Bell. Cole applied in spring 2020 to become East Baton Rouge Parish school

superintendent but fell one vote short of making the round of semifinalists. Lanus, who served on the board in 2020 and later was a big supporter of Narcisse, said he’s committed to helping

Cole. “I do really support you. I’m going to fight for you, and I’m going to make sure that you get a fair shake and a chance to rebuild the vision, rebrand this district and bring this

community back together,” Lanus said. Cole is close friends with Adam Smith. Smith has applied three times before to get the job permanently, but his latest bid ran aground late when he fell

one vote short last month of being named a finalist. A subsequent pressure campaign by Smith supporters has failed to move the five board members who have opposed him becoming the

district's permanent leader. Cole said he did not seek the job in June out of respect for Smith, but Smith's stalled bid to become superintendent has changed matters. "If not

me then I would want no one else than LaMont Cole," Smith told the board Wednesday. He recalled how he was relieved with Cole replaced him as principal of Park Forest Middle, where two

of Smith's children were still students. “I entrusted him with my most precious asset," Smith said. "I would ask the community to entrust him with your most precious assets.”

Hiring Cole is likely the best option to repair relations with school employees who supported Smith and who have pledged a first-day-of-school sickout if Smith is passed over. The repair

process was aided when the board on Wednesday voted 8-1 to keep Smith, making him deputy superintendent. Smith will have a contract to be approved by the board. The hard feelings over the

bruising fight of the past month receded Wednesday but did not disappear. At one point, board members Lanus and Mike Gaudet pressed to be included in the negotiations on Cole’s employment

contract, which is to be voted on Aug. 1. That move prompted a negative reaction by Martin, who noted that traditionally board leadership negotiates such contracts. He recalled a meeting he

had Friday with Gaudet. “You told me that you would agree to support Mr. Cole if he would fire Adam Smith,” Martin said. “Is that still your position?” Gaudet did not respond directly saying

simply that he’s dismayed by the “baseless accusations and personal attacks.” “Some of the issues start up here on this dais,” Gaudet said, addressing Cole. “I apologize for the behavior of

our board.” Cole saw a wave of support right after he announced his candidacy. Seven of Cole’s 11 fellow Metro Council members issued a news release Wednesday supporting his bid for

superintendent. They are Chauna Banks, District 2; Aaron Moak, District 4; Darryl Hurst, District 5; Cleve Dunn Jr., District 6; Dwight Hudson, District 9; Carolyn R. Coleman, District 10;

and Jennifer "Jen" Racca, District 12. Two more council members, Brandon Noel, District 1, and Denise Amoroso, District 8, issued their own press releases soon afterwards. Six of

those council members left after their own Metro Council meeting and made an unusual trip across town to the School Board Office to personally encourage the board to support Cole. “This is a

bittersweet moment for us,” said Dunn. “We’re happy for LaMont and the opportunity, but we’re sad because we’re losing you.” State representatives Edmond Jordan and C. Denise Marcelle also

spoke on Cole’s behalf. Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome opened Wednesday’s meeting. “He has the ability to inspire and that is a very significant characteristic for a leader,” Broome

said. “I have seen him consistently bring people together across the aisle." _Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct a quote from board member Nathan Rust._