FILE: ABA
BOARD AUTHORITY
The Lafayette Parish School Board is a legislative, evaluative and judicial body and is responsible for the operation and improvement of public education within Lafayette Parish. As a creation of the Louisiana Legislature, the School Board’s authority is delegated, and the Board may perform only those functions for which it has been delegated such authority. This authority may be expressly stated or implied in statutes or established through regulations of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
As a legislative body, the School Board has the authority to determine and establish written policies and to evaluate their effectiveness. It also evaluates and acts on recommendations concerning the progress and improvement of the schools. The function of the School Board is not to operate the schools, but to see that they are operated for the best interest of the children and taxpayers within the provisions of Louisiana law.
In addition to powers expressly granted by law, the School Board also has implied or additional powers necessarily incidental to the performance of its statutory duties. The School Board may also make recommendations and regulations for its own government not inconsistent with state or federal law or with the regulations of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, as it may deem proper.
Members of the School Board have authority only when acting as a School Board when called legally into session. The School Board shall not be bound in any way by any statement or action on the part of any individual Board member except when such statement or action is pursuant to specific instructions of the Board.
Revised: December 2, 2015
Ref: Constitution of Louisiana, Art. VI, Sec. 29, Sec. 30, Sec. 31, Sec. 32, Sec. 33, Sec. 35, Sec. 44, Art. VIII, Sec. 10
La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:51, 17:81
Board minutes, 12-2-15
Lafayette Parish School Board