Board members, superintendent remember Charles Campbell

The Vermilion School District has announced the passing of long-time school board member Charles Campbell.
Campbell died Sunday at his home in Abbeville. He was 79.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Vincent Funeral Home in Abbeville.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held this Friday at 2 p.m. at St Theresa Catholic Church in Abbeville. Visitation will be held from 8 a.m. until the time of service at Vincent Funeral Home.
A rosary will be said at noon on Friday.
Campbell was the longest active school board member on the board with 20-years. He was beginning his fifth straight term as a school board member. He has never had anyone run against him in the five terms.
He served as a school board member under four superintendents. He was president of the school board five times.
Vermilion School Superintendent Jerome Puyau was saddened to hear the news of his passing.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Charles Campbell’s family and friends,” said Puyau. “We are saddened by the passing of our friend, colleague and educational leader. There are no words that can truly express the enormity of this loss for our district, community, and educational leadership.”
Puyau continued by saying, “We will miss his presence, input and knowledge on all educational issues. Mr. Campbell has left an indelible mark on all who had the great honor and privilege of serving alongside him during the many years he served as a board member.”
Earlier this month the School Board honored Campbell for his 50-plus years of working in education. The board voted to name the conference room in the Annex Center the Charles Campbell Conference Room. Campbell sat in one specific chair as a school board member. That chair will be known as the “Charles Campbell Chair.”
School Board Member Anthony Fontana, who served at least 20 years alongside Campbell, said, “I had the pleasure of serving with Mr. Campbell for more than 20 years,” Fontana said. “He is a board member of extraordinary talent. He came from a humble beginning.
“No one worked harder to represent his constituents. He was a fighter for the people who never got a break. He was more than that. What impressed me was that Charles was looking to the future and not the past. He believed the board can make the future much better than the past.”
Other school board members added their comments about serving with Campbell.
“Mr Campbell was a man of honor, integrity and intelligence,” said Erath School Board member Ricky Broussard. “He was a board member who always put the needs of his parish ahead of the needs of his own district. It was a pleasure and honor to have served with Mr. Campbell.”
Board President Chris Gautreaux served as Campbell’s vice president recently.
“Mr. Charles was a mentor to me,” said Gautreaux. “When I got on the board he took me under his wing and got me up to speed on the inner workings of the school system.”
Gautreaux said he owes Campbell a “big thanks for allowing me to pick his brain anytime I had questions.”
Campbell, who began his education as a teacher, was still willing to teach new board members a thing or two. Sara Duplechain, from Erath, was sworn in her first term in January. She sat next to him during the meetings.
“He told me to be tough, strong and never give up on an issue if it would affect the children,” Duplechain said. “He helped me understand how a meeting is run.”
Another new school board member is Laura LeBeouf. She has been in Vermilion education for 20 years. He also gave her some advice when she first got on the school board in January.
“His last words to me were: ‘Never give up hope for good will always prevail over evil where education is concerned,” LeBeouf said. “My promise to him is that I will continue to fight for at-risk schools so that all children are provided with tools for success.”
A special school board election will have to be held in October for Campbell’s replacement.