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Legal consultant tells board: 'Your role is to be a policymaker' under Les gislative changes
Summary
Attorney John Geiss of Hammons & Seals instructed the board that its primary role under Louisiana law is policymaking, not running the district, and outlined statutory limits on personnel involvement and individual member action.
Attorney John Geiss of Hammons & Seals gave a detailed training to the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board about the legal boundaries of board authority under state law, including Act 1 (2012) and subsequent statutes.
"Act 1 says we as a board enact policies. So that's the very first one, making policies," Geiss told the board, explaining the change that shifted operational control to superintendents and staff. He warned that individual members may not use their office to "compel, coerce, or interfere with a personnel decision," and cited potential consequences including lawsuits, ethics complaints and public censure.
Why it matters: Geiss’…
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