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Regular Session, 2011 ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 87
BY SENATOR MURRAY
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To urge and request the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop a
process by which to select a state superintendent of education that is open and
accessible to the public and utilizes a committee composed of representatives of the
general public, community organizations, and other education stakeholders to assist
in the search and review process for potential candidates for the position of state
superintendent of education.
WHEREAS, the state superintendent is constitutionally established as the
administrative head of the Department of Education and charged with the responsibility of
implementing the policies of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, in
accordance with state law; and
WHEREAS, in carrying out his constitutional and statutory duties and
responsibilities as the head of the state's public education system, the state superintendent
exercises tremendous influence and control over the educational outcomes of more than
700,000 students enrolled in 1,427 public schools; and
WHEREAS, identifying and selecting a suitable, qualified candidate to fill the
position of state superintendent of education is undoubtably the most important function and
responsibility of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education; and
WHEREAS, the critical nature of this decision behooves the board to engage the
statewide community in a collaborative process when selecting a state superintendent of
education, an individual whose actions will have a life-long impact on every child enrolled
in a public school in this state; and
WHEREAS, the creation of a committee to assist the State Board of Elementary and
Secondary Education in developing guidelines and procedures to be followed in determining
who will be interviewed for the position of state superintendent of education would be
invaluable to the board and provide a mechanism for the public to have input into selecting
the individual who will fill this powerful and consequential statewide position. SCR NO. 87 ENROLLED
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THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop a
process by which to select a state superintendent of education that is open and accessible to
the public and utilizes a committee composed of representatives of the general public,
community organizations, and other education stakeholders to assist in the search and review
process for potential candidates for the position of state superintendent of education.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge
and request the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to create an advisory
committee to assist in the board's search for a state superintendent of education and that such
committee shall be composed of representatives of the general public and community
organizations, and shall include representatives of the following organizations:
(1)The Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana.
(2)The Council for a Better Louisiana.
(3)The Louisiana School Boards Association.
(4)The Louisiana Association of Educators.
(5)The Louisiana Federation of Teachers.
(6)The Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
president of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES