HLS 20RS-942 ORIGINAL
2020 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 657
BY REPRESENTATIVE PHELPS
SCHOOLS/ADMINISTRATORS: Provides for principals to be appointed by the school
board instead of the superintendent
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 17:81(A)(3) and (6) and (P)(1) and 414.1 and to repeal R.S.
3 17:81(A)(3)(b), relative to the appointment of school principals; to provide for
4 appointment by the local school board instead of the local superintendent; and to
5 provide for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 17:81(A)(3) and (6) and (P)(1) and 414.1 are hereby amended and
8reenacted to read as follows:
9 §81. General powers of local public school boards
10 A.
11 * * *
12 (3) Each local public school board shall delegate authority for the hiring and
13 placement of all school personnel, including those for which state certification is
14 required, except for school principals, to the local school superintendent. It shall be
15 the responsibility of the superintendent to ensure that all persons except for school
16 principals have proper certification, as applicable, and are qualified for the position.
17 The school board shall be responsible for appointing and ensuring the certification
18 and qualification of school principals.
19 * * *
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 20RS-942 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 657
1 (6) The superintendent, the school board, and the school principal shall make
2 all employment-related decisions based upon performance, effectiveness, and
3 qualifications as applicable to each specific position. Effectiveness, as determined
4 pursuant to R.S. 17:3881 through 3905, shall be used as the primary criterion for
5 making personnel decisions; however, in no case shall seniority or tenure be used as
6 the primary criterion when making decisions regarding the hiring, assignment, or
7 dismissal of teachers and other school employees.
8 * * *
9 P.(1) No board member shall act in an individual capacity to use the
10 authority of his office or position as a member of the school board in a manner
11 intended to interfere with, compel, or coerce any personnel decision made by the
12 superintendent or a school principal, including the hiring, promotion, discipline,
13 demotion, transfer, discharge, or assignment of work to any school employee. The
14 superintendent, as the instructional leader of the district and its chief executive
15 officer, shall have primary responsibility for personnel actions in the district except
16 for personnel actions related to school principals, for which the school board shall
17 have the primary responsibility.
18 * * *
19 §414.1. Public elementary and secondary school principals; duties
20 The principal for each public elementary and secondary school shall be
21 appointed by and the school board and serve under the overall direction of the local
22 superintendent of schools as the administrative officer of the school to which he is
23 assigned. Consistent with the requirements of law and the rules and regulations of
24 the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the local public school
25 board by which he is employed, he shall have administrative responsibility for the
26 direction and supervision of the personnel and activities and the administration of the
27 affairs of that school.
28 Section 2. R.S. 17:81(A)(3)(b) is hereby repealed in its entirety.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 20RS-942 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 657
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 657 Original 2020 Regular Session Phelps
Abstract: Provides for school boards, rather than superintendents, to appoint principals.
Present law provides for the appointment of school principals by the local superintendent.
Proposed law instead provides for such appointment by the local school board.
Present law requires school boards to delegate authority for the hiring and placement of all
school personnel to the local superintendent. Proposed law excepts school principals and
provides that the school board shall be responsible for their appointment and ensuring their
certification and qualification.
Present law requires superintendents and principals to base employment decisions on
performance, effectiveness, and qualifications. Proposed law additionally requires this of
school boards as the employment authority for principals pursuant to proposed law.
Present law requires the superintendent to consult with teachers prior to making any
decisions regarding the hiring or placement of a principal at the school in which such
teachers are employed. Proposed law, because it removes the superintendent's authority to
appoint principals, repeals present law.
(Amends R.S. 17:81(A)(3) and (6) and (P)(1) and 414.1; Repeals R.S. 17:81(A)(3)(b))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.