§1381. Washington Parish and Bogalusa City school systems; consolidation study commission; creation; membership; duties and responsibilities

A. The Bogalusa/Washington School System Consolidation Commission is hereby created for the purpose of studying the feasibility of consolidating the Bogalusa City School System and the Washington Parish School System.

B. The commission shall consist of the following members:

(1) The president of the Bogalusa City School Board.

(2) The superintendent of the Bogalusa City School System.

(3) The president of the Washington Parish School Board.

(4) The superintendent of the Washington Parish School System.

(5) The mayor of the city of Bogalusa.

(6) The mayor of the city of Franklinton.

(7) The president of Washington Parish, or his designee.

(8) The president of the Bogalusa Chamber of Commerce or his designee, who shall be a member of the chamber.

(9) The president of the Franklinton Chamber of Commerce or his designee, who shall be a member of the chamber.

(10) One parent of a child enrolled in a school in the Bogalusa City School System, appointed by the president of the Bogalusa City School Board.

(11) One parent of a child enrolled in a school in the Washington Parish School System, appointed by the president of the Washington Parish School Board.

(12) Three parents who have a child enrolled in a public school in either the Bogalusa City School System or the Washington Parish School System, one appointed by the state representative who represents House District No. 75, one appointed by the state representative who represents House District No. 74, and one appointed by the state senator who represents Senate District No. 12.

(13) One teacher who teaches at a school in the Bogalusa City School System or the Washington Parish School System, appointed by the Louisiana Federation of Teachers.

(14) One teacher who teaches at a school in the Bogalusa City School System or the Washington Parish School System, appointed by the Louisiana Association of Educators.

(15) One principal of a school in the Bogalusa City School System or the Washington Parish School System, appointed by the Louisiana Association of Principals.

(16) One member of the clergy who resides within the geographic boundaries of the Bogalusa City School System, appointed by the Help Center of Churches.

(17) One member of the clergy who resides within the geographic boundaries of the Washington Parish School System, appointed by the Help Center of Churches.

(18) The state representative who represents House District No. 75.

(19) The state representative who represents House District No. 74.

(20) The state senator who represents Senate District No. 12.

(21) The director of finance for the Bogalusa City School Board.

(22) The director of finance for the Washington Parish School Board.

C. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation or a per diem for their services or attendance at commission meetings.

D. The members of the commission shall elect such officers and create such subcommittees as they deem necessary to fulfill the commission's duties and responsibilities.

E.(1) The president of the Bogalusa City School Board and the president of the Washington Parish School Board shall jointly call the first meeting, which shall be held no later than September 1, 2018. The commission shall meet at least monthly, but additional meetings may be called by the chairman or upon request of a majority of the members of the commission.

(2)(a) All meetings of the commission shall be held in accordance with the Open Meetings Law, and official minutes and records of all meetings shall be kept.

(b) All documents and proceedings of the commission shall be posted on the website of the Bogalusa City School System and the Washington Parish School System.

(3) A majority of the membership of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

F. The commission shall be domiciled in Franklinton, Louisiana, but the meeting site shall alternate between the city of Bogalusa and the city of Franklinton.

G. The Bogalusa City School System and the Washington Parish School System shall provide staff support and resources to the commission.

H. The commission shall:

(1) Determine the feasibility of consolidating the Bogalusa City School System and the Washington Parish School System, thereby creating a unified school district, the geographic boundaries of which shall be coterminous with the geographic boundaries of Washington Parish.

(2) If the commission determines that consolidating the two school systems is in the best interest of the students in each respective school system and the parish as a whole, the commission shall formulate a plan and timeline to effect the consolidation. Such plan, at a minimum, shall provide for:

(a) Passage of a resolution by each school board calling for an election to gain voter approval of the consolidation in accordance with Article VIII, Section 10(C) of the Constitution of Louisiana and R.S. 17:1379.

(b) The establishment and composition of a school board for the consolidated school system, including the election and qualification of members and apportionment of the districts of board members, all in accordance with applicable state law.

(c) The establishment and membership of an interim school board to ensure a coordinated, collaborative, and seamless transition of governance and provision of educational services to all students until a new school board is created and elected.

(d) Contracts, agreements, or memoranda of understanding that might be needed to effect the consolidation.

(e) Any federal court order, judgment, or consent decree in effect.

(f) Policies and processes to address:

(i) Governance and administration of the school system and schools.

(ii) Financial matters, including existing tax structure, taxing districts, bond issues, and debt, and the creation of a budget for the consolidated school system.

(iii) Transfer of buildings, facilities, and movable and immovable property owned by each respective school system.

(iv) Number of schools and grade distribution within the schools.

(v) Curriculum and instruction.

(vi) Student enrollment.

(vii) Student transportation.

(viii) Teachers and other school personnel.

(ix) Data management.

(x) Any other issues or considerations identified by the commission.

I.(1) The commission shall submit a written report of its findings, conclusions, and recommendations to the Bogalusa City School Board and the Washington Parish School Board not later than August 31, 2019.

(2) Prior to adoption of the final report, the commission shall hold a public hearing on its findings, recommendations, and plans developed for consolidating the two school systems. The commission shall publish public notice of the meeting in a newspaper with parishwide circulation at least twenty days prior to the hearing and a copy of the report shall be made available for public inspection prior to the hearing.

(3) The final report shall be posted on the website of both school systems in a manner that provides easy access to the report by parents and the public.

J. The commission shall terminate on September 1, 2019.

Acts 2018, No. 332, §1, eff. May 15, 2018; Acts 2018, No. 413, §1, eff. May 23, 2018.