PLAQUEMINE, La.—
State District Judge Robin Free has ruled in favor of the Iberville Parish School Board, rejecting claims in a lawsuit that state laws were violated in advance of the board's 8-7 vote April 21 to close North Iberville High School.In response to the closure, Maringouin Mayor John Overton filed the lawsuit May 22, charging that school Superintendent Ed Cancienne lobbied School Board members for their votes prior to the board's official vote, a violation of state Open Meeting Laws.
In rendering his ruling Tuesday, Free immediately dismissed claims that Cancienne violated Louisiana's open meetings law. Free said polling individual school board members is absolutely OK.
