HLS 13RS-580 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2013
HOUSE BILL NO. 269
BY REPRESENTATIVE REYNOLDS
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
SCHOOLS/LOCAL SUPERINTDT: Provides relative to the employment contracts and
termination of superintendents of public school systems
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 17:54(B)(1)(b)(i)(aa) and (iii), relative to superintendents2
employed by city, parish, and other local public school boards; to provide relative3
to the performance targets in the employme nt contracts of certain superintendents;4
to increase the length of time that a superintendent must be notified prior to5
termination; to authorize rather than require the removal of a superintendent from6
office under certain circumstances; and to provide for related matters.7
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:8
Section 1. R.S. 17:54(B)(1)(b)(i)(aa) and (iii) and are hereby amended and reenacted9
to read as follows: 10
ยง54. Officers of boards, election; superintendents, qualifications, appointment and11
removal12
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B.(1)14
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(b)(i)(aa) The superintendent of schools shall be employed by a city, parish,16
or other local public school board pursuant to a written contract. Such contract shall17
contain but need not be limited to specific performance objectives. However, for the18
board of a local public school system that received any variation of a school19
performance letter grade of "C", "D", or "F", such contract shall establish20 HLS 13RS-580 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 269
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performance targets at the school and district level as follows: (1) student1
achievement; (2) student achievement for schools that have received any variation2
of a school performance letter grade designation of "C", "D", or "F"; (3) graduation3
rates; (4) graduation rates for schools that have received any variation of a school4
performance letter grade designation of "C", "D", or "F"; and (5) the percentage of5
teachers with an "effective" or "highly effective" performance rating. Not less than6
thirty ninety days prior to the termination of such a contract, the school board shall7
notify the superintendent of termination of employment under such contract, or in8
lieu thereof the board and the superintendent may negotiate and enter into a contract9
for subsequent employment.10
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(iii) The superintendent shall be retained during the term of a contract;12
however, if the superintendent is found incompetent, unworthy, or inefficient or is13
found to have failed to fulfill the terms and performance objectives of his contract14
or to comply with school board policy, then the superintendent shall may be removed15
from office as provided by Subsection C of this Section. Before the superintendent16
can be removed during the contract period, he shall have the right to written charges17
and a fair hearing before the board after reasonable written notice.18
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DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Reynolds HB No. 269
Abstract: Provides relative to the employment contracts and termination of public school
superintendents.
Present law provides for the employment of a superintendent by a local public school board
pursuant to a written contract, which shall contain specific performance objectives. Requires,
for the board of a school system that received any variation of a school performance letter
grade of "C", "D", or "F", such a contract to establish performance targets at the school and
district level as follows:
(1)Student achievement. HLS 13RS-580 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 269
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(2)Student achievement for schools that have received any variation of a school
performance letter grade designation of "C", "D", or "F".
(3)Graduation rates.
(4)Graduation rates for schools that have received any variation of a school
performance letter grade designation of "C", "D", or "F".
(5)The percentage of teachers with an "effective" or "highly effective" performance
rating.
Proposed law removes "C" systems from those required to include the special performance
targets in the superintendent's contract. Removes "C" schools from the requirement for
special performance targets provided in (2) and (4) above.
Present law provides that at least 30 days prior to the termination of a superintendent's
contract, the school board shall notify the superintendent of termination. Proposed law
increases the length of this time period from at least 30 days to at least 90 days prior to
termination.
Present law requires that a local school superintendent be removed from office upon being
found incompetent, unworthy, or inefficient or to have failed to fulfill the terms and
performance objectives of his contract or to comply with school board policy. Proposed law
authorizes rather than requires removal from office under these circumstances.
(Amends R.S. 17:54(B)(1)(b)(i)(aa) and (iii))