Louisiana board hires Layzell as consultant

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The Board of Regents couldn’t get legislative approval for the salary to hire Tom Layzell as the state’s interim commissioner of higher education. So, Layzell now will work as a part-time adviser to the board.

The Advocate says Layzell — who had headed college systems in Kentucky, Mississippi and Illinois — will be paid $98 an hour, up to 32 hours per week for about six months. That rate of pay could give him more than $81,500.

State lawmakers rejected Layzell’s proposed salary as interim commissioner, which could have paid him $162,600 for six months, calling it excessive.

The Regents board is searching for a permanent higher education commissioner. Meanwhile, Layzell will help oversee higher education budget matters and the implementation of a new tuition increase law.