2006 Louisiana Laws - RS 41:900 — Rapides parish school board; exchange of unused school land

§900.  Rapides Parish School Board; exchange of unused school land

A.  Whenever the Rapides Parish School Board determines that a parcel of its property in Rapides Parish, including but not limited to sixteenth section land, is no longer needed for school purposes and that the best interest of the public school system would be served by the exchange of such land for other land of comparable value, the school board may exchange such land for other land in Rapides Parish in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section.

B.  The Rapides Parish School Board shall hold a public hearing to receive public comment concerning the exchange of such lands.  Prior to the public hearing, the school board shall obtain an appraisal from a certified appraiser of the lands being considered for exchange, and such appraisal shall be available for public inspection at the hearing.

C.  The school board shall provide notice of the public hearing and notice of its intent to consider the exchange of land as well as a brief description of both parcels of land by advertisement in the official journal of the parish on at least three separate days at least thirty days prior to the date on which the hearing is to be held.

D.  After such hearing and after giving due consideration to any public comment, the school board may, at a regularly scheduled meeting, authorize the advertised exchange, provided that a majority of the elected membership of the school board determines that the exchange is for a valid purpose in the best interest of the school board and that the lands to be exchanged are of comparable value.  The president of the school board shall thereafter proceed with the exchange of the lands in accordance with law and upon authorization of the school board.

E.  The powers and rights conferred by this Section shall be in addition to the powers and rights conferred by any other general or special law.  This Section does and shall be construed to provide a complete and additional method for the exchange of unused school lands including but not limited to sixteenth section lands by the school board.  No proceeding notice or approval shall be required for the exchange of unused school land by the school board except as provided herein.  The provisions of this Section shall be liberally construed for the accomplishment of its purposes.

F.(1)  The Rapides Parish School Board may exchange immovable property it currently holds in full ownership for full ownership of the immovable property described in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection upon which the school board possesses a full surface use servitude.  Such exchange shall be for property of equal value and shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section.

(2)  The property to which this specific grant of authority applies is: A tract of land in Section 27, T1S-R4W, described as commencing at a point on the South line of said section where the East line of the right of way for State Highway Number 151 crosses said section line and running thence N.31º40' East along the East line of said highway 14.08 chains; thence N.89º55' East 12.60 chains; thence South 0º7' East 12 chains, to a point on the South line of said Section 27; thence S.89º58' W. along said section line 20 chains to a point of beginning, containing 19.56 acres more or less.

Acts 2004, No. 410, §1, eff. June 24, 2004.