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Senate committee advances bill to simplify charter-conversion votes after heated debate
Summary
A Senate education committee voted 5–1 to advance SB65, which changes charter-conversion elections to count only ballots cast rather than a majority of eligible voters. Supporters called the change a clarification; opponents, including school superintendents and the Louisiana School Boards Association, warned it lowers the threshold to transfer public schools to charter governance.
The Senate Education Committee on Monday voted 5–1 to report favorably on Senate Bill 65, a proposal that would change how communities vote to convert an existing public school into a charter school.
SB65 replaces the current ‘‘majority of eligible voters’’ standard with a simple-majority rule counting only those who cast ballots and requires secret ballots and clearer voter eligibility. Senator Cathy, the bill’s author, said the measure ‘‘clarifies and cleans up existing law regarding the process’’ and aligns conversion elections with other democratic elections.
Opponents argued the change would allow a relatively small group of participants to decide the fate of a preexisting, publicly funded school. Danny Garrett of the Louisiana School Boards Association told the committee the bill ‘‘reduces the number of votes required for something…that is a private group of citizens takes a public school, a public building away from the body that built it.’’
St. Charles Parish Superintendent Dr. Ken Orling, who testified in opposition, said lowering the threshold ‘‘concentrates’’ decision‑making and risks instability, urging the committee to preserve the current higher standard so that conversions reflect broad community support.
Senator Jackson Andrews, speaking from his district’s recent experience, raised concerns that the change could permit conversions of high‑performing schools and described the potential loss of community assets and alumni investments if a conversion were decided by a small voting minority.
Supporters, including representatives of charter school advocacy groups, said the measure simply prevents non‑voters from being counted as ‘‘no’’ votes and argued it would increase clarity and encourage voter participation. The committee recorded a 5–1 roll‑call in favor of reporting the bill out of committee.
Next steps: SB65 was reported favorably by the Education Committee and would proceed to the Senate calendar for possible further action.
