Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
| Louisiana State Board of Education | |
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| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Total Seats: | 11 |
| Term limits: | Two and a half out of three consecutive terms |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | Louisiana Constitution, Article VIII, Section 3 |
| Selection Method: | 8 members elected, 3 appointed |
| Current Officeholder | |
| Conrad Appel, Judy Armstrong, Kevin Berken, Preston Castille, Simone Champagne, Lance Harris, Paul Hollis, Sandy Holloway, Sharon Latten Clark, Stacey Melerine, Ronnie Morris | |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 20, 2027 |
| Last election: | November 18, 2023 |
| Other Louisiana Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is an elected executive agency of the Louisiana state government, responsible for managing the state's public K-12 education. The board's stated mission is to "provide leadership and create policies for education that expand opportunities for children, empower families and communities, and advance Louisiana in an increasingly competitive global market."[1]
Current officeholders
The board is composed of eleven voting members, eight of which are elected to four year terms from districts of similar population. The remaining three members are appointed to four year terms representing the state at-large by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. Every year, the board elects a president, vice president, and secretary-treasurer from among its members.[2]
Authority
The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education was established by the 1974 Louisiana Constitution.[3]
Louisiana Constitution, Article VIII, Section 3A:
| The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is created as a body corporate. It shall supervise and control the public elementary and secondary schools and special schools under its jurisdiction and shall have budgetary responsibility for all funds appropriated or allocated by the state for those schools, all as provided by law. The board shall have other powers, duties, and responsibilities as provided by this constitution or by law, but shall have no control over the business affairs of a city, parish, or other local public school board or the selection or removal of its officers and employees; however, the board shall have the power to supervise, manage, and operate or provide for the supervision, management, and operation of a public elementary or secondary school which has been determined to be failing, including the power to receive, control, and expend state funds appropriated and allocated pursuant to Section 13(B) of this Article, any local contribution required by Section 13 of this Article, and any other local revenue available to a school board with responsibility for a school determined to be failing in amounts that are calculated based on the number of students in attendance in such a school, all in the manner provided by and in accordance with law. |
Qualifications
Section 17:1 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes requires that elected members of the board be residents of the district they are elected from.[4]
Elections
Louisiana elects members to four year terms on the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education in gubernatorial election years (e.g. 2023, 2027, 2031, 2035).
2023
Louisiana held primary elections for eight Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education seats on October 14, 2023. A general election took place on November 18, 2023.
2021
Louisiana held a special election for one seat on the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education on April 24, 2021. The primary was scheduled for March 20, 2021. The filing deadline was January 22, 2021.
2019
Louisiana held primary elections for eight Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education seats on October 12, 2019. A general election took place on November 16, 2019.[5]
Full history
To view the electoral history dating back to 2003 for the office of Louisiana State Board of Education, click [show] to expand the section. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2015
Kira Orange Jones won re-election to the District 2 seat in the October 24, 2015, primary election, defeating Kara Tamara Washington.
Sandy LeBlanc Holloway won election to the District 3 seat in the October 24, 2015, primary election, defeating incumbent Lottie P. Beebe.
In the October 24, 2015, District 4 primary election, acting board member Mary Johnson Harris and Tony Davis advanced, while Glynis Johnston was eliminated. Davis defeated Harris in the November 21, 2015, general election.
Gary Jones won election to the District 5 seat in the October 24, 2015, primary election, defeating Johnny Fatheree.
In the October 24, 2015, District 6 primary election, Kathy Edmonston and Jason Engen advanced while Jason France, Ette S. Licciardi, and Laree LeJeune Taylor were eliminated. Edmonston defeated Engen in the November 21, 2015, general election.
Holly Boffy won re-election to the District 7 seat in the October 24, 2015, primary election, defeating Mike Kreamer.
Jada Lewis won election to the District 8 seat in the October 24, 2015, primary election, defeating incumbent Carolyn Hill.
2011
In the October 22, 2011, District 2 primary election, Kira Orange Jones and incumbent Louella Givens advanced while Pam Matus and Ferdinand Wallace, Jr. were eliminated. Jones defeated Givens in the November 19, 2011, general election.
Lottie Beebe won election to the District 3 seat in the October 22, 2011, primary election, defeating incumbent Glenny Lee Buquet.
No candidates filed to challenge incumbent Walter C. Lee (R) in the October 22, 2011, District 4 primary election. Lee won re-election by default. Jay Guillot won election to the District 5 seat in the October 22, 2011, primary election, defeating incumbent Keith Guice.
In the October 22, 2011, District 6 primary election, incumbent Chas Roemer, IV and Donald Songy advanced while Beth Meyers was eliminated. Roemer defeated Songy in the November 19, 2011, general election.
Holly Boffy won election to the District 7 seat in the October 22, 2011, primary election, defeating incumbent Dale Bayard.
In the October 22, 2011, District 8 primary election, Carolyn Hill and Jim Guillory advanced while Russell Armstrong and Domoine D. Rutledge were eliminated. Hill defeated Guillory in the November 19, 2011, general election.
2007 Louella Givens won re-election to the District 2 seat in the October 20, 2007, primary election, defeating Ernest Marcelle, Jr.
No candidates filed to challenge Glenny Lee C. Buquet (D) for the District 3 seat in 2007. Buquet won re-election by default. Walter Lee won re-election to the District 4 seat in the October 20, 2007, primary election, defeating Bob Wynn.
In the October 20, 2007, District 5 primary election, Ruth Ulrich and Keith Guice advanced while Walter B. Gatlin and James E. Lee were defeated. Guice defeated Ulrich in the November 17, 2007, general election.
The only candidate to file for the District 6 seat in 2007 was Charles E. "Chas" Roemer (R), who won by default. Dale Bayard won re-election to the District 7 seat in the October 20, 2007, primary election, defeating Charlie Buckels.
Linda Johnson won re-election to the District 8 seat in the October 20, 2007, primary election, defeating Darrell Glasper.
2003
In the October 4, 2003, District 2 primary election, Louella Givens and incumbent Keith Johnson advanced while Glenn Wilson and C.C. Campbell-Rock were eliminated. Givens defeated Johnson in the November 15, 2003, general election.
No candidates filed to challenge Glenny Lee Buquet (D) for the District 3 seat in 2003. Buquet won by default. No candidates filed to challenge Walter C. Lee (D) for the District 4 seat in 2003. Lee won by default. James Stafford won re-election in the October 4, 2003, District 5 primary election, defeating Henry Herford, Jr.
In the October 4, 2003, District 6 primary election, Polly Broussard and Buddy Bel advanced while Noel Hammatt was eliminated. Broussard defeated Bell in the November 15, 2003, general election.
No candidates filed to challenge Dale M. Bayard (D) for the District 7 seat in 2003. Bayard won re-election by default. No candidates filed to challenge Linda McKinley Johnson (D) for the District 8 seat in 2003. Johnson won re-election by default. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Term limits
Term limits for members of the board are established in Section 3B of Article VIII of the Louisiana Constitution, which bars members from serving more than two and a half out of three consecutive terms. The term limits took effect for members appointed or elected to terms after December 8, 2008.
Louisiana Constitution, Article VIII, Section 3B:
| (B)(1) Membership; Terms. The board shall consist of eleven members, eight of whom shall be elected from single-member districts, which shall be determined as provided by law, and three of whom shall be appointed by the governor from the state at large, with consent of the Senate. Members shall serve terms of four years, which shall be concurrent with the term of the governor.
(2) No person who has served as a member of the board for more than two and one-half terms in three consecutive terms shall be elected or appointed to the board for the succeeding term. This Subparagraph shall not apply to any person elected or appointed to the board prior to the effective date of this Subparagraph, except that it shall apply to any term of service of any such person that begins after such date. |
Vacancies
The procedure for filling vacancies on the board is established in Article VIII, Section 3C of the Louisiana Constitution. In the event of a vacancy in one of the board's appointed seats, the governor may appoint a successor. In the event of a vacancy in one of the board's elected seats, the government may appoint a successor if less than one year remains of the former board member's term. If more than one year remains, a special election must be held to choose a successor.
Louisiana Constitution, Article VIII, Section 3C:
| A vacancy in the office of an elected member, if the remaining portion of the term is more than one year, shall be filled for the remainder of the term by election, as provided by law. Other vacancies shall be filled for the remainder of the term by appointment by the governor. |
Duties
The duties of the board are laid out in Section 17:7 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes. Among the board's duties are oversight and planning responsibilities for the Louisiana Department of Education, the establishment of minimum funding levels for local schools and management of the state's educational funds, and the holding of administrative hearings to resolve education-related disputes. The board is also responsible for direct oversight of schools for the blind, deaf, and physically handicapped.[6][7]
Divisions
As of January 2021, the board consisted of the following committees:[8]
- Academic Goals & Instructional Improvement Committee
- Administration & Finance Committee
- Educator Effectiveness Committee
- School Innovation & Turnaround Committee
Compensation
Compensation for board members is laid out in Section 17:5 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes. Board members are entitled to per diem at the same rate as members of the Louisiana State Legislature for each day they spend conducting board business. Board members are also eligible for reimbursement of expenses incurred in the course of official business under the same procedures and regulations as other state employees.[9]
Section 17:5:
| Each member of the board shall be paid the same per diem provided by law for members of the state legislature for each day of actual attendance at meetings of the board or of a committee appointed by the board on which the member serves, or while on business for the board assigned by it, plus travel and other necessary expenses incurred in the performance of official duties. Reimbursement of travel and expenses shall be in conformity with regulations governing such expenses of state officials. |
Former officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Contact information
Physical Address
Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Suite 5-190
1201 North Third Street
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802
Phone: 225-342-5840
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, "About BESE," accessed January 21, 2021
- ↑ Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, "Structure," accessed January 21, 2021
- ↑ Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, "BESE's History," accessed January 21, 2021
- ↑ Louisiana State Legislature, "RS17:1," accessed January 21, 2021
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, "Candidate Inquiry: Election Date 10/12/2019," accessed August 22, 2019
- ↑ Louisiana State Legislature, "RS17:7," accessed January 21, 2021
- ↑ Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, "BESE's Responsibility," accessed January 21, 2021
- ↑ Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, "Committees," accessed January 21, 2021
- ↑ Louisiana State Legislature, "RS17:5," accessed January 21, 2021
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