7 to 2.

That was the overwhelming vote cast by the Lafayette Parish School Board to terminate Superintendent Pat Cooper's contract last night, effective immediately.

The only two votes in Dr. Cooper's favor were outgoing board members Kermit Bouillion and Shelton Cobb, who were both defeated in the November 4th elections.

During the hearing, Dr. Cooper warned that if he was fired, he would sue.

"If you fire me, yeah. Forty-three years, a spotless reputation, I'm suing," Cooper said during his closing statements, according to our news partners at KATC.

The firing follows months of criticism over his management of the district. Five formal charges have been brought against him which include his hiring of a maintenance supervisor who did not have the correct job requirements including a high school diploma, as well as the accusation that he paid different principals different salaries.

Cooper said in his defense other employees were also hired without the proper qualifications.

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