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)]
HB 443 Original 2016 Regular Session Jones
Abstract: Provides for each local public school district to have a president elected by the district's
qualified electors and provides that he shall appoint the local superintendent and prepare and
submit the district budget to the school board.
Election of school district president / district / terms
Proposed law provides for the election of a president of each local public school district at the time
of the district's regular school board elections. Provides that he shall serve a four-year term
concurrent with board members and that a person who has served as president for more than 1½
terms in two consecutive terms shall not be elected president for the succeeding term.
Qualifications
Present law requires that each parish school board member be able to read and write and, at the time
of qualification for office, be at least 18, have resided in the state for the preceding two years, and
have been actually domiciled for the preceding year in the parish, ward, or district from which he
seeks election. Proposed law applies these qualifications to candidates for the office of school
district president.
Powers and duties
Proposed law provides that the district president shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) Be deemed to be the "chief executive or administrative officer" of the school board pursuant
to all present law requirements of the La. Local Government Budget Act, R.S. 39:1301 et
seq., including requirements relative to budget preparation.
(2)Other powers and duties as prescribed by the school board.
(3) Appoint the local superintendent, as follows:
Present law requires school boards to elect a local superintendent by a favorable vote of the majority
of the school board membership. Proposed law instead requires that the school district president
appoint the superintendent; subjects such appointment to approval by this same vote of the board.
Present law grants certain authorities relative to the superintendent's employment to the board, including terminating and renewing his contract. Proposed law grants these powers instead to the
district president, subject to the approval of a majority of the board.
Present law allows the board to remove the superintendent prior to the expiration of his contract with
a super-majority vote. Proposed law grants this authority to the district president but provides that
his removal is subject to approval by a super-majority vote of the board.
Present law further requires local school boards, when choosing a local superintendent of schools,
to select a leader who shall prioritize student achievement and act in the best interests of all students
enrolled in schools under the board's jurisdiction. Proposed law instead makes this requirement
applicable to the district president and his appointment of the superintendent.
Effective if and when the proposed amendment of Article VIII of the Constitution of La. contained
in the Act which originated as House Bill No. __ of this 2016 R.S. of the Legislature is adopted at
a statewide election and becomes effective.
(Amends R.S. 17:54(B)(1)(a) and (b)(i)(aa) and (cc), (ii)(bb), and (iv) and (3) and (C) and 81(A)(1);
Adds R.S. 17:54.1)