A lawsuit has been filed in Caddo District Court challenging the constitutionality of money spent by Superintendent Dr. Lamar Goree to promote the bond election.

Local attorney John Settle has filed the lawsuit. He claims public dollars are being used to promote the May 2nd bond election. He asserts that the school system has used the robo-call system to call parents urging them to attend public meetings about the plan.

Several community meetings have been held to focus on the details of the "Re-Invest in Caddo" plan. A recent mandatory meeting was held at Timmons Elementary where staff members were reportedly encouraged to support the bond issue. This meeting was not open to the public.

Here is a revised statement from Caddo Parish Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Lamar Goree following the filing of a lawsuit today in Caddo District Court:

 

“I, along with Caddo Parish Public Schools staff, have spent the better part of four months presenting factual information to our community in regard to our upcoming May 2 bond election. We have and will continue to work within the law to present the facts and details of our proposal and the impact it would have on Caddo Parish.

“The law clearly allows governmental entities including our school district to disseminate factual information. Although we believe the law is clear, we welcome the Court’s interpretation of the Louisiana Constitution so that may return our focus back from the courthouse chambers of Texas Street to the 41,100 students of Caddo Parish.”

In addition, Caddo Parish School Board attorney Reginald Abrams responded to the lawsuit by stating the district followed the law in providing accurate information.

“The Louisiana Constitution provides that ‘no public funds shall be used to urge any elector to vote…for a proposition. …This provision shall not prohibit the use of public funds for the dissemination of factual information relative to a proposition appearing on an election ballot.’ The Louisiana Attorney General and the Courts have clearly stated that public funds may be used for dissemination of factual information regarding a bond proposition. We believe that the school district is following the letter and spirit of the law in order to inform the public.”

THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH WAS REMOVED FROM THE REVISED STATEMENT:

“This lawsuit can only be described as baseless and frivolous. At no time did Dr. Goree or his staff encourage support of the bond initiative, but rather gave parents and community members opportunities to learn the facts. This is no different than any other government body holding a meeting to present information and is actually considered part of a healthy community dialogue rather than an illegal act.”

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