BOSSIER PARISH, LA (KSLA) -
The Louisiana Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to hear an appeal to overturn the Bossier Parish School Board's April bond election.
Bossier Attorney John Settle asked the high court less than a week ago to review the case, which accused the board of fraud by misleading voters. He was asking for the election results to be voided.
A Bossier Parish judge ruled in favor of the BPSB on June 25th. On July 2, A five-judge panel from the state's appellate court agreed with the original ruling. Settle then took the case to the Louisiana Supreme Court, asking it to review and overturn the other court rulings.
Speaking after the appellate court ruling, Settle said, "The Court of Appeals seemingly overlooked the website postings by the BSPB that encouraged a "Yes" vote on the bond, and an email to all parents of students that clearly was incorrect--that the bond proposition would be "at no additional costs". The BPSB clearly knew that 2012 was a tax re-assessment year and that the Bossier residences would be re-assessed at 2 to 4 percent higher values--thus MORE costs to property owners for the same millage."
Bossier Parish Schools Superintendent D.C. Machen says he is happy with the court's decision. "We are pleased that the decisions of the lower courts upholding the board's actions relative to the April election are now final and look forward to beginning construction of the much-needed schools that the bond proceeds will fund," says Machen.
Machen adds, "The voters of Bossier Parish have always supported its school system and that support is greatly appreciated. The rapid growth in population that Bossier Parish has enjoyed has resulted in a corresponding need to expand existing schools and to build new ones. We are glad we can now carry out the voters' wishes to provide our students with the facilities they need in order to receive the excellent education parents expect and to which their children are entitled."
"It is our hope today's ruling will put this litigation behind us and allow us to focus our efforts on implementing the new educational program that the state has put in place to improve student achievement," says Machen.
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