NEW ORLEANS – (May 7, 2020) Due to the resignation of District 5 School Board Member Ben Kleban, which will be effective on June 15, 2020, the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) will receive Letters of Interest from qualified individuals seeking to fill the District 5 seat on an interim basis. To be a school board member the person must be at least 18 years old, a resident in Louisiana for the preceding two years and domiciled for the preceding year in the district to which he or she is being appointed. [La. R.S. 17:52(E)(1)].

Pursuant to OPSB Policy ABCDA and La. R.S. 18:602, OPSB has 20 days in which to fill the vacancy created by Mr. Kleban’s resignation, or the Governor will appoint a person to fill the vacancy. The OPSB intends to appoint a qualified person to fill the vacant District 5 School Board seat on an interim basis from June 15, 2020 until the December 31, 2020 to fill the unexpired term of Ben Kleban.

All interested persons must submit a Letter of Interest by Tuesday, May 12, 2020, 12:00 noon. Letters of Interest should be addressed to Board President Ethan Ashley, and mailed to the OPSB Board Office, 2401 Westbend Parkway, Suite 5055, New Orleans, Louisiana 70114 or emailed to the OPSB Board Counsel at swilliams@fishmanhaygood.com. To avoid any possible delays associated with mail delivery, submission by email is preferred.

In addition to the Letter of Interest, all persons must also submit a resume' and an Affidavit of Qualifications, [consistent with La. R.S. 17:52(E)(1)]. A copy of a current Louisiana Driver's License (or other official Louisiana identification) must be attached. The following additional documents must be attached to the Affidavit of Qualifications to demonstrate the required residency and domicile: (1) copy of lease demonstrating residency and domicile in the District or a copy of the homestead exemption claimed by the applicant; (2) copy of a utility bill bearing the applicant’s name on the account; and (3) a copy of the applicant’s voter registration card or other document indicating where the applicant is registered to vote.

OPSB also requests that applicants submit with their Letter of Interest a short Vision Statement responding to the following three questions: 1) What is your vision for public education in Orleans Parish? 2) What in your experience best qualifies you for this interim appointment? 3) What do you believe a "quality" school district looks like? 4) What are your top three priorities that you would like to address if you are selected?

For more information, please direct any questions to the OPSB Board Counsel at swilliams@fishmanhaygood.com.

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