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Ouachita Parish School Board votes 6-1 to post state-required historical documents after executive session on ACLU demand
Summary
After an executive session about a written demand from the ACLU, the board voted 6-1 to approve a resolution to post historical documents/displays in classrooms as required by House Bill 71 (Act 676 of 2024).
The Ouachita Parish School Board voted 6-1 on Monday to approve a resolution directing the posting of historical documents and displays required under House Bill 71 (Act 676 of 2024), after holding an executive session to discuss a written demand from the ACLU.
Board members entered executive session under Louisiana Revised Statutes 42:17(A)(2) to discuss prospective litigation following a formal written demand from the ACLU about the board's compliance with La. R.S. 17:2122 and 17:3996(B)(82), statutes referenced by the board as part of Act 676. The board recessed for executive session and later returned to open session and voted on the posted resolution.
Tommy Como moved that the board approve the resolution “as presented by the attorney general's office and represented by the attorneys in our executive session today, in compliance with the state law ... House Bill 71, also known as Act 676,” and the motion was seconded. A roll-call vote recorded six members voting in favor and one against; Harold McCoy voted no.
Why it matters: The resolution implements the district's compliance posture with a recent state law that requires certain materials or postings in classrooms. The board identified the attorney general's office guidance and attorneys consulted during the executive session as the basis for the resolution; the board did not disclose the content of the executive session.
Board action: The roll-call as recorded in the public minutes was: Miss May — yes; Mr. Beatty — yes; Mr. Hicks — yes; Mr. McCoy — no; Mr. Graves — yes; Mr. Manley — yes; Mr. Coley — yes. The chair declared the motion carried, 6-1.
The board did not provide additional details in open session about the executive session discussion, citing statutory confidentiality for deliberations on prospective litigation. The board directed staff to post the distributed materials in classrooms according to the resolution and attorney general guidance.
