Holly Boffy new BESE Board president

Abbeville’s own Holly Boffy was elected president of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education on Wednesday morning.
The vote was 6-5, which is unusually close for the board's top job.
Boffy will hold the job for 2023 and she succeeds Jim Garvey, of Metairie.
“I am humbled by and grateful for the opportunity to serve in this capacity,” said Boffy. “My goal is to unite our Board and our state in serving our students through incredible education opportunities. Our schools are the only place some of our students find hope. We owe them our best.”
She is one of three BESE members who is serving their final year because of term limits.
In addition, Gov. John Bel Edwards' three appointees are expected to be replaced next year after a new governor is elected.
That means six of BESE's 11 members could be new to the board in 2024.
Boffy is principal of W. D. and Mary Baker Smith Career Center.
She is a former state teacher of the year.
Preston Castille, who lives in Baton Rouge, was elected vice-president and Ronnie Morris, another Baton Rouge resident, was elected secretary-treasurer.
Castille was nominated to be president but he declined.
Aside from Boffy those voting for her were Castille, Belinda Davis, of Baton Rouge; Morris; Thomas Roque, of Alexandria and Doris Voitier, of Metairie.
Voting "no" were Ashley Ellis, of Monroe; Garvey; Sandy Holloway, Thibodaux; Michael Melerine, Shreveport and Kira Orange Jones, New Orleans.