§1970.4. School board; creation; membership; terms; powers and duties; voting; compensation

            A. There is hereby created a school board for the school, sometimes hereinafter referred to as the "board".

            B. The board shall be composed of seven members who reside within a sixty-mile radius of the campus of the school as follows:

            (1) Two appointees of the governor.

            (2) One appointee of the lieutenant governor.

            (3) One faculty member of the College of Arts at the university appointed by the university president or a person appointed by the university president who resides within a sixty-mile radius of the campus who is deemed by the president to qualify for such a faculty position.

            (4) One faculty member of the College of Sciences at the university appointed by the university president or a person appointed by the university president who resides within a sixty-mile radius of the campus who is deemed by the president to qualify for such a faculty position.

            (5) One faculty member of the College of Liberal Arts at the university appointed by the university president or a person appointed by the university president who resides within a sixty-mile radius of the campus who is deemed by the president to qualify for such a faculty position.

            (6) One appointee of the state superintendent to be replaced by a member of the student body at the school who is elected by the student body.

            C.(1)(a) Except as provided in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection and Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph, the term of each member of the board shall be four years.

            (b) The terms of the initial members shall be as follows:

            (i) One appointee of the governor shall serve a two-year term and one a four-year term, as designated by the governor.

            (ii) The appointee of the lieutenant governor shall serve a three-year term.

            (iii) One of the faculty appointees of the university president shall serve a two-year term, one a three-year term, and one a four-year term, as designated by the university president.

            (2) The appointee of the state superintendent shall serve only as an initial member of the board. In January, 2000 and thereafter, the school student member, elected by the student body pursuant to a process adopted by the student government association, shall serve a one-year term and he may not succeed himself.

            (3) All board members shall serve without compensation.

            D.(1) The board may:

            (a) Accept donations, bequests, or other forms of financial assistance from any public or private person or agency and comply with rules and regulations governing grants from the federal government or from any other person or agency, which are not in contravention of the constitution and laws of this state.

            (b) Purchase land, buildings, and equipment and make improvements to facilities necessary for the use of the school, in accordance with applicable law and subject to the approval of the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System.

            (c) Lease land or other property belonging to it or to the school, subject to approval of the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System.

            (d) Sell or exchange land or other real property not needed for school purposes, but only when specifically authorized by law and then only in accordance with the approval of the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System. Any sale shall be authorized by resolution adopted by the board, and the act of sale shall be signed by the president of the board or such other person to whom the signing may be delegated by the board in the authorizing resolution.

            (e) Adopt, amend, or repeal rules and policies necessary or proper for the conduct of the business of the board.

            (f) Award certificates and issue diplomas for successful completion of programs of study. All such certificates and diplomas shall be in addition to a regular high school diploma which shall be issued by the state board in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 17:6(11) to any student who successfully completes the program of study adopted by the board.

            (g) Enter into contracts and agreements which have been recommended by the principal, in accordance with applicable law, and to the extent that funds are specifically appropriated therefor, with other public agencies with respect to cooperative enterprises and undertakings related to or associated with an educational purpose or programs affecting education in the school. This shall not preclude the board from entering into other such contracts and agreements that it may deem necessary to carry out its duties and functions.

            (h) Perform such other functions as are necessary to the supervision and control of those phases of education under its supervision and control.

            (i) The board shall delegate to the principal such of its powers and duties as it determines appropriate to aid the principal in the efficient administration of his responsibility for the implementation of the policies of the board.

            (2) The board shall:

            (a) Adopt rules and policies necessary for the efficient operation of the school.

            (b) Establish criteria to be used in determining eligibility of applicants for enrollment.

            (c) Determine subjects and extracurricular activities to be offered. Such subjects shall initially be subject to approval by the state board, and thereafter, changes in the subjects shall be subject to approval by the state board.

            (d) Select a principal, subject to the approval of the president of the university, who shall be the chief administrative officer of the school and who shall administer the rules and policies adopted by the board. The principal shall also be the chief administrative officer of the board and shall be responsible for all the administrative functions, duties, and needs of the board. Until such time as the board selects a principal, an appointee of the president of the university shall serve as the chief administrative officer of the board and shall be responsible for the duties of the principal as they relate to the board.

            (e) Determine faculty and staff positions necessary for the efficient operation of the school and select personnel for such positions.

            (f) Prepare and adopt an annual budget necessary for the continued operation of the school and submit it to the president of the university for his approval and inclusion in the university budget.

            (g) Pay the salaries and expenses, including but not necessarily restricted to facilities, equipment, and supplies of the faculty and staff of the school out of funds appropriated or otherwise made available for the operating and administrative expenses of the board and the school.

            (h) Exercise budgetary responsibility and allocate for expenditure by the school and programs under its jurisdiction pursuant to its approved budget all monies appropriated or otherwise made available for purposes of the board and of such school and programs.

            (i) Prescribe and select for use in the textbooks and other materials of instruction for children enrolled in the school and programs under its jurisdiction for which the legislature provides funds.

            (j) Prepare and adopt or approve programs of study and rules for the discipline of students and for the government of the school and programs under its jurisdiction, which shall not be inconsistent with law and which shall be enforced by the staff and faculty of the school. Such programs of study shall initially be subject to approval by the state board, and thereafter, any changes in such programs of study shall be subject to approval by the state board.

            (k) Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, prescribe the qualifications and provide for the certification of teachers. Such qualifications shall initially be subject to approval by the state board, and thereafter, any changes in such qualifications shall be subject to approval by the state board.

            (l) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, especially R.S. 17:441 et seq., adopt rules and regulations under which faculty members may become permanent employees of the school.

            (m) Develop and adopt a formula or system under which students shall be admitted. Such formula or system shall be sufficient to insure that at least one qualified applicant for admission from within the geographical boundaries of each city and parish school system shall be admitted to the school each year. If no qualified applicant from a city or parish public school system applies for admission, then the admission position available to that school system shall be lost to that system for that school year and shall be reallocated by the board to provide for the admission of qualified applicants from other public systems.

            (n) Adopt rules to provide for the audition of any applicant who has not been auditioned but who meets all other criteria for participation in the program.

            (o) Impose room, board, and other fees for all full-time students, with the provision that any student who is incapable of paying such fees due to economic hardship shall be exempt from or subject to reduction of the requirements of this Subparagraph.

            (p) Establish criteria to be used in determining those students who shall be exempt from the requirements of Subparagraph (o) of this Paragraph.

            E. Four members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and all official action of the board shall require the favorable vote of a majority of those members present and voting. All members of the board shall be voting members.

            F. The school board shall serve as the local educational agency for the school.

            Acts 1997, No. 1350, §1; Acts 2013, No. 220, §6, eff. June 11, 2013; Acts 2015, No. 389, §1, eff. July 1, 2015.