NOTE: §68.2 eff. upon adoption of a const. amend. which authorizes the St. George Community School System. See Acts 2025, No. 455.
§68.2. St. George Community School System; interim school board; interim school superintendent
A. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, upon the appointment of the members thereof as provided in Subsection C of this Section, an interim school board shall be created for the St. George Community School System and the board shall continue its service until the taking of office of the initial elected members of the St. George Community School Board as provided in R.S. 17:68.1.
B.(1) The interim school board shall be composed of seven members appointed at large as provided in Subsection C of this Section. An interim school board member shall have attained the age of eighteen, have resided in the state for the two years preceding appointment, have been domiciled within the geographic boundaries of the school system for at least one year preceding appointment, meet the qualifications provided in R.S. 17:52, be an elector and reside within the geographic boundaries of the school system.
(2) Membership on the interim school board shall not disqualify an otherwise eligible person from qualifying as a candidate for election as a member of the St. George Community School Board.
C.(1) All seven members of the interim school board shall be appointed by the governor within thirty days after the effective date of this Act and shall serve until the initial members of the St. George Community School Board are elected, as provided in R.S. 17:68.1, and take office.
(2) Members appointed by the governor shall be from a list of nominees provided as follows:
(a) The members of the Louisiana Senate elected from district numbers six, fourteen, and sixteen shall each nominate three persons meeting the qualifications for office for each position to be appointed by the governor.
(b) The members of the Louisiana House of Representatives elected from district numbers sixty-five, sixty-six, sixty-eight, sixty-nine, and seventy shall each nominate two persons meeting the qualifications for office for each position to be appointed by the governor.
(3) A vacancy on the interim school board shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
D.(1) The interim school board shall constitute a body corporate in law.
(2) The organization of the interim school board as well as the board's powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities shall be as provided by law generally for city, parish, and other local public school boards.
(3) Members of the interim school board shall serve without compensation.
E. The interim school board shall adopt rules, regulations, and procedures consistent with law to effectuate this Section and to administer the duties, functions, and responsibilities of the interim board.
F. The provisions of R.S. 42:11 through 28, relative to open meetings, and the provisions of Chapter 1 of Title 44 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, relative to public records, shall be applicable to the interim school board and its members.
G. All authority that is granted to the interim school board by this Section shall expire upon the taking of office of the initial members of the St. George Community School Board once the initial members are elected pursuant to R.S. 17:68.1. However, the elected school board may take formal action to continue the interim school board as an advisory body on matters previously under the jurisdiction of the interim board.
H. The governor shall appoint an interim school superintendent who shall serve until the elected school board chooses a new school superintendent who shall meet the qualifications of R.S. 17:54.
I. The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall:
(1) Work cooperatively and collaboratively with the interim school board and the St. George Community School Board to effect the transfer of the students, buildings and other facilities, property, instructional materials, buses, and all other assets related to the schools located within the geographic boundaries of the St. George Community School System in an efficient and expeditious manner.
(2) Provide the interim school board for the St. George Community School System with immediate and complete access to:
(a) All school buildings and facilities associated with the schools located within the geographic boundaries of the St. George Community School System. Such access shall include making the school buildings and facilities to be transferred available, free of charge, to the interim school board or the elected school board for the St. George Community School System for purposes of conducting board and community meetings and other functions and activities related to the operation of the St. George Community School System.
(b) All student records and any other student-related files associated with students enrolled in the schools to be transferred to the St. George Community School System.
(c) All financial records associated with the schools to be transferred to the St. George Community School System, including those related to building maintenance, taxes, insurance, and indebtedness.
J. The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall not:
(1) Interfere, or impede in any way, with the processes to transfer the students, buildings and other facilities, property, instructional materials and equipment, buses, and all other assets related to the schools located within the geographical boundaries of the St. George Community School System to the St. George Community School Board.
(2) Sell, transfer, or otherwise remove any asset or thing of value, movable or immovable, corporeal or incorporeal, that is attributable to the schools to be transferred to the St. George Community School System prior to such transfer.
(3) Incur, transfer, or assign any debt or other responsibility or obligation to schools to be transferred to the St. George Community School System that is not properly attributable to such schools.
Acts 2025, No. 455, §1, eff. See Act.