A second Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orléans board member has resigned, reducing the board to five members, two shy of the seven the state requires.

Joel Vilmenay, president and general manager of WDSU-TV, confirmed his resignation Thursday in a letter to The Lens, saying that his resignation went into effect last week.

“I determined that my ongoing board work with several other organizations in New Orleans and what will be an extensive travel schedule in the coming months will not permit me to devote the time deserved by the Lycee community,” he wrote.

Member Hema Banangada, the board’s treasurer, also resigned in February citing time commitments.

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education requires charter school boards to have a minimum of seven members. Also, Lycee’s charter agreement with the Louisiana Department of Education states that its board of directors “shall consist of the number of members required by BESE policy.”

Board President Jean Montes did not return request for comment Thursday, nor did he answer the Lens’ request for a current roster of board members Wednesday.

On Feb. 18, Lycee volunteer Mike Pinkerton told The Lens on Montes’ behalf that Banagada’s treasurer duties were being assumed by board member Catherine MacPhaille, “until the board can select a replacement.”

Vilmenay resigned about a week after he was appointed to the board’s newly formed governance committee, which was created at the recommendation of management consultant Jeremy Hunnewell in order to help recruit new board members to Lycee.

Vilmenay and MacPhaille were the only two voting members Montes appointed to the committee.

According to a timeline Hunnewell recommended — and the board accepted — the governance committee would be bringing recommendations for new board members to Lycee’s next regular meeting, March 11.

With just MacPhaille left as the only voting member of the committee, it’s unclear how that will affect any upcoming board member nominations.

Marta Jewson

Marta Jewson covers education in New Orleans for The Lens. She began her reporting career covering charter schools for The Lens and helped found the hyperlocal news site Mid-City Messenger. Jewson returned...