§58.2. East Baton Rouge Parish School Board; reapportionment; election districts; terms

A. At the same time as the congressional elections in 1982 and thereafter, the members of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall be elected from single-member districts.

B.(1) On or before December 31, 1981, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall develop a plan to divide the parish into single-member districts from each of which one member of said board shall be elected. Such districts shall be drawn with as equal population as possible, utilizing population figures from the 1980 United States government census. Each member of the board shall be elected at the election for school board members to be held at the congressional election to be held in 1982. The members elected in 1982, and their successors in office, shall serve for four-year concurrent terms.

(2) Copies of the proposed single-member district plan shall be submitted to the members of the East Baton Rouge Parish legislative delegation for approval no later than January 15, 1982. The proposed plan shall be approved if the chairman of the East Baton Rouge Parish legislative delegation files with the secretary of state a notarized statement that the parish delegation has held a public meeting to consider the plan, after due public notice, and a majority of the total membership of the delegation has voted to approve the plan. The notarized statement must be filed no later than April 1, 1982. If the East Baton Rouge Parish legislative delegation does not approve the plan submitted by the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, the legislature shall develop and enact such a plan no later than June 30, 1982.

C. Prior to final adoption of the apportionment plan required above or any future alteration, change or rearrangement of school board election districts, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall order a public hearing on the proposed plan, alteration, change or rearrangement and shall cause to be published in a newspaper published within the parish at least twenty (20) days prior to the date of such hearing, the time and place thereof, a general summary and map of the proposed plan and the times and places where copies of the proposed plan are available for public inspection.

D. Vacancies on the board shall be filled as provided by law.

E.(1) In the event the city of Baker municipal school system is established in accordance with R.S. 17:72, on or after the congressional primary election in 2002, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall develop a plan to divide the parish, excluding the city of Baker, into single-member districts from each of which one member of said board shall be elected. Such districts shall be drawn with as equal population as possible, utilizing population figures from the latest decennial federal census.

(2) Prior to the final adoption of such a new plan, as provided for in Paragraph (E)(1) of this Section, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall order a public hearing on the proposed plan and shall cause to be published in a newspaper published within the parish of East Baton Rouge, with parishwide circulation, at least twenty days prior to the date of such hearing, the time and place thereof, a general summary and map of the proposed plan and the times and places where copies of the proposed plan are available for public inspection.

(3) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, each elected member of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board holding office on the date the city of Baker municipal school system is established in accordance with R.S. 17:72 shall serve the remainder of the term of office for which he was elected. If a vacancy occurs during said term of office, it shall be filled in accordance with law.

F. At the next congressional primary election following the date of the establishment of the city of Baker municipal school system, on which a regular election for the election of members of parish school board would be held, the members of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall be elected from single-member districts adopted in accordance with the Paragraphs (E)(1) and (2) of this Section. The members so elected, and their successors in office, shall serve four-year concurrent terms.

G.(1) In addition to any other requirements in this Section, in the event the Zachary Community School Board begins the actual operation of educating students within its jurisdiction as a separate school system, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall develop a plan to divide the parish, excluding the geographic area within the boundaries of the Zachary community school system, into single-member districts from each of which one member of said board shall be elected. Such districts shall be drawn with as equal population as possible, using population figures from the most recent decennial federal census.

(2) Prior to the final adoption of such plan, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall order a public hearing on the proposed plan and shall cause to be published in a newspaper published within the parish of East Baton Rouge, with parishwide circulation, at least twenty days prior to the date of such hearing, the time and place thereof, a general summary and map of the proposed plan, and the times and places where copies of the proposed plan are available for public inspection.

(3) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, each elected member of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board holding office on the date the Zachary Community School Board begins the actual operation of educating students within its jurisdiction as a separate school system shall serve the remainder of the term of office for which he was elected. If a vacancy occurs during said term of office, it shall be filled in accordance with law from districts in effect at the time the office is filled.

(4) At the next date on which a regular election for the election of members of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board would be held following the date the Zachary Community School Board begins the actual operation of educating students within its jurisdiction as a separate school system, the members of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall be elected from single-member districts adopted in accordance with this Subsection. The members so elected and their successors in office shall serve four-year concurrent terms. Thereafter, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall be reapportioned as otherwise provided by law.

H.(1) In addition to any other requirements in this Section, in the event the Central Community School Board begins the actual operation of educating students within its jurisdiction as a separate school system in accordance with R.S. 17:66, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall develop a plan to divide the parish, excluding the geographic area within the boundaries of the Central community school system, into single-member districts from each of which one member of said board shall be elected. Such districts shall be drawn with as equal population as possible, using population figures from the most recent federal decennial census.

(2) Prior to the final adoption of such plan, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall order a public hearing on the proposed plan and shall cause to be published in a newspaper published within the parish of East Baton Rouge, with parishwide circulation, at least twenty days prior to the date of such hearing, the time and place thereof, a general summary and map of the proposed plan, and the times and places where copies of the proposed plan are available for public inspection.

(3) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, each elected member of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board holding office on the date the Central Community School Board begins the actual operation of educating students within its jurisdiction as a separate school system shall serve the remainder of the term of office for which elected. If a vacancy occurs during said term of office, it shall be filled in accordance with law from districts in effect at the time the office is filled.

(4) At the next date on which a regular election for the election of members of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board would be held following the date the Central Community School Board begins the actual operation of educating students within its jurisdiction as a separate school system, the members of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall be elected from single-member districts adopted in accordance with this Subsection. The members so elected and their successors in office shall serve four-year concurrent terms. Thereafter, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall be reapportioned as otherwise provided by law.

NOTE: Subsection I as enacted by Acts 2013, No. 295, §1, eff. when a const. amend. becomes effective that either authorizes the creation of the Southeast Baton Rouge Community School System or that authorizes the legislature to create school districts that have the same constitutional status and authority as parish school districts. See Acts 2013, No. 295, §3.

I.(1) In addition to any other requirements in this Section, in the event the Southeast Baton Rouge Community School Board begins the actual operation of educating students within its jurisdiction as a separate school system in accordance with R.S. 17:67, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall develop a plan to divide the parish, excluding the geographic area within the boundaries of the Southeast Baton Rouge Community School System, into single-member districts from each of which one member of such board shall be elected. Such districts shall be drawn with as equal population as possible, using population figures from the most recent federal decennial census.

(2) Prior to the final adoption of such plan, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall order a public hearing on the proposed plan and shall cause to be published in its official journal, at least twenty days prior to the date of such hearing, the time and place thereof, a general summary and map of the proposed plan, and the times and places where copies of the proposed plan are available for public inspection.

(3) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, each elected member of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board holding office on the date the Southeast Baton Rouge Community School Board begins the actual operation of educating students within its jurisdiction as a separate school system shall serve the remainder of the term of office for which he was elected. If a vacancy occurs during his term of office, it shall be filled in accordance with law from districts in effect at the time the office is filled.

(4) At the next date on which a regular election for members of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board would be held following the date the Southeast Baton Rouge Community School Board begins the actual operation of educating students within its jurisdiction as a separate school system, the members of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall be elected from single-member districts adopted in accordance with this Subsection. The members so elected and their successors in office shall serve four-year concurrent terms. Thereafter, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall be reapportioned as otherwise provided by law.

Added by Acts 1977, No. 122, §1, eff. June 27, 1977. Amended by Acts 1980, No. 285, §2, eff. July 14, 1980; Acts 1995, No. 973, §1, eff. Nov 23, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 1434, §1, eff. July 15, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 1027, §1, eff. Dec. 27, 1999; Acts 2001, No. 895, §1, eff. June 26, 2001; Acts 2006, No. 202, §1, eff. Dec. 11, 2006; Acts 2013, No. 295, §1, eff. when constitutional amendment is adopted. See note below.

NOTE: See Acts 2013, No. 295, §2, relative to enrollment options for high school students in East Baton Rouge Parish and the inclusion of such students in school system membership counts.

NOTE: See Acts 2013, No. 295, §3, relative to the creation of the Southeast Baton Rouge Community School System or other school districts.