The Iberia Parish School Board approved a structural change for the school district’s transportation department that will have the head of the department in a manager’s role instead of just a supervisor.

The position change comes after the school district administration has been searching for a new person to fill the position. Superintendent of Schools Heath Hulin said three have applied for the position, and when the one qualified candidate was offered the job, the person turned down the role in its current scope.

As the head of the department, the manager will oversee 150 employees who all submit reports to the manager, which caused board member Mike Mayeux to worry that the demands of the job will burn out a future employee.

“This is a department with one at the top and 150 employees below,” Mayeux said. “We’ve designed this to burn people out.”

Hulin said that along with the manager, a clerk and secretary are also employed at the central office.

“I think the job is manageable with the right person in that position,” Hulin responded. “There are two other people that manage routes as well.”

Board President Brad Norris added that the position change could be the first step in several to revamp the department, which oversees bus transportation in the Iberia Parish School District.

“This position is a better position than what the department currently has,” Norris said. “That will attract better people and more qualified people. Before we throw money at this, let’s pump up the position and see what a better qualified person can do.”

Hulin said the administration is still in the design phase for a restructuring of the department, but the role change is the first step to that goal.

“We need to get a person in there first, and once the right person is in that position they can come back to us with recommendations,” Hulin said.