§22.1. Superintendent; chief operating officer; assignment to local school systems

            A. The state superintendent of education may provide for the department's assignment of a chief operating officer for the purposes provided in this Section.

            B.(1) The superintendent may assign this officer to any city, parish, or other local school system that fails for two consecutive years to comply with any minimum instructional expenditure requirement contained in the Minimum Foundation Program formula as adopted by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and approved by the legislature. The officer shall be a contract employee who serves on a temporary basis as determined by the superintendent. The officer shall not be a permanent employee of the department and shall not receive a state salary or associated benefits.

            (2) The officer shall research the financial standing and practices of the system and submit a written report of his findings and recommendations to the local school board and the state superintendent of education, who shall include this information in any report that he makes to the state board relative to system compliance with this requirement.

            (3) The school board shall develop a plan for compliance with this requirement based on the officer's recommendations and submit the plan to the state superintendent in accordance with timelines established in state board policy. The plan is subject to the approval of the superintendent prior to implementation.

            C. The state board shall adopt rules for the implementation of this Section.

            Acts 2024, No. 368, §1.