Louisiana Department of Education
Louisiana Education Supt. John White
Louisiana Education Supt. John White
Louisiana Education Supt. John White
Louisiana Education Supt. John White
Louisiana Education Supt. John White

Suit that seeks ouster of Louisiana's education superintendent is thrown out

July 11, 2017
Judge says plaintiffs do not have standing to try to remove John White as the state's top educator.

A judge in Baton Rouge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by 14 Louisiana residents that sought to oust state Education Superintendent John White.

The Baton Rouge Advocate reports that Judge William Morvant ruled that only Gov. John Bel Edwards, Attorney General Jeff Landry, East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore III or Senate President John Alario could file such a court petition challenging White's right to continue holding office. The judge did not ruling on the merits of the case.

The residents seeking to remove White from office are critical of the Common Core academic standards he advocated. The suit contends that the Common Care academic standards  are "substantively and academically flawed." White has run afoul of the governor and former Gov. Bobby Jindal over Common Core.

State Sen. John Milkovich, who represents the plaintiffs, said after the ruling his clients are considering their legal options. He maintains that White is "illegally in office."

White was appointed by the state's Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and approved by the Senate in 2012, but since then a new board has been elected. The suit contends that because White wasn't reappointed by the board or reconfirmed by the Senate, his post should be declared vacant.

Sponsored Recommendations

How to design flexible learning spaces that teachers love and use

Unlock the potential of flexible learning spaces with expert guidance from school districts and educational furniture providers. Discover how to seamlessly integrate adaptive ...

Blurring the Lines in Education Design: K–12 to Higher Ed to Corporate America

Discover the seamless integration of educational and corporate design principles, shaping tomorrow's leaders from kindergarten to boardroom. Explore innovative classroom layouts...

Room to Learn: Furniture Solutions for Education

Preparing students for the future. Utilizing our experience in the education market, we offer a dynamic selection of products that pair technology with furniture to help stimulate...

Transforming Education: A Case Study in Progressive Classroom Design

Discover how Workspace Interiors and the Baldwin School District reshaped learning environments in Long Island, New York, creating pedagogically responsive spaces that foster ...