FILE:  AA

SCHOOL DISTRICT LEGAL STATUS

The Richland Parish School Board derives its legal status from the State Legislature which is subject to the Constitutions of the State of Louisiana and the United States.  Accordingly, education is a state function.  The legislature has been granted authority for creation of school boards by Article VII, Section 9 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974 which states:

"The legislature shall create parish school boards and provide for the election of their members. ....boards are therefore public corporations.  Their functions are exclusively of a public character, and their acts are performed solely for the public benefit." Bank of Winnfield v. Brumfield, 1929, 11 La. App. 647 So. 628.

The school district is under the exclusive control and management of the Richland Parish School Board and is a separate school district.  This district shall be operated in accordance with constitutional and statutory provisions.  Responsibility for interpreting these provisions shall lie with the School Board except where formal interpretation of such provisions has been made by the courts or other constituted authority.

Accordingly, the corporate name of this school district shall be the Richland Parish School Board and it conducts its business at 411 Foster Street, Rayville, Louisiana 71269, mailing address: Post Office Box 599, Rayville, Louisiana.

Ref:    U.S. Constitution, Amend. X

U.S. Constitution, Amend. XIV, Sec. 1

Constitution of Louisiana, Art. VIII, Sec. 9

La. Rev. Stat. Ann.  §§17:51, 17:1371, 17:1371.1, 17:1371.2, 17:1372, 17:1373, 17:1377, 17:1378

Wisconsin v. Yoder, 92 S.Ct. 1526 (1972)

Richland Parish School Board