FILE: DJA
AUTHORIZED SIGNATURES
BANK ACCOUNTS
The Orleans Parish School Board authorizes any two of the following employees to be joint signers on any and all checks issued in payment of school district expenditures:
Superintendent;
Assistant Superintendent;
Chief Financial Officer; and
Assistant Comptroller.
The School Board authorizes the use of a facsimile signature device for those persons designated to sign checks. The Superintendent shall establish and maintain appropriate administrative procedures assuring the proper issuance of all checks.
The Superintendent shall be authorized to open bank accounts as necessary. The Superintendent or his/her designee shall be authorized to manage all investments of the School Board.
GENERAL CONTRACTS
Contracts and other documents obligating the School Board or school district shall be signed by the President of the School Board or, in his/her absence, the Vice-President, upon approval by the School Board. No staff member shall be authorized to sign for the School Board President. All documents requiring the signature of the President shall first be examined and approved by the Superintendent or designee, who will attach a note or memo indicating that the document has been examined and approved for signature. After the President signs the document, it shall be returned to the Superintendent or designee for proper recording, disposition, and filing.
The Superintendent shall be authorized to approve and sign contracts obligating the School Board or school district that are within the limit set in policy ABE, School Superintendent Legal Status. In the Superintendent’s absence, the Assistant Superintendent may approve and sign.
Other School Board personnel (e.g., chief financial officer, school nurses, etc.) are authorized to sign documents or instruments on behalf of the School Board if required by any statute, regulation, or other School Board policy.
Any person purporting to enter into any contract or sign any documents on behalf of the School Board or school district shall do so in compliance with policies adopted by the School Board and administrative procedures in effect at the time the contract is executed.
FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS, FUNDS OR PROGRAMS
Unless otherwise specified in the federal or state grant or contract, the Superintendent or designee has the authority to sign necessary assurances, compliance, and accountability documents on behalf of the School Board. Before signing, the Superintendent or designee will verify that the assurances and documents are accurate. All documents will be made available to the School Board upon the request of any School Board member.
RIGHT OF WAY AGREEMENTS
Incidental right-of-way agreements may be approved and signed by the Superintendent or his/her designee.
CONSTRUCTION CHANGE ORDERS
The Superintendent shall be authorized to approve and sign change orders within the limits set in policy FGF, Change Orders.
BILLS, INVOICES, STATEMENTS
The School Board directs that only authorized employees shall sign bills, invoices, or statements in accordance with pertinent accounting procedures.
TEACHER CONTRACTS
The Superintendent shall sign each teacher contract.
SCHOOL CHECKING ACCOUNTS
The School Board authorizes the Superintendent to open bank accounts for schools. The use of checking accounts at schools shall be in accordance with appropriate accounting regulations and procedures maintained by the Superintendent or his/her designee.
The Superintendent shall be given authority to make changes on school checking accounts as each school principal or school administrator changes, or at any other time deemed necessary, without the necessity of any additional resolution being adopted by the School Board. School Board personnel shall monitor the appropriateness of each checking account and shall be authorized to recommend to the Superintendent the closure of any account deemed necessary.
ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES
To the extent allowed by the Louisiana Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or other applicable law, individuals authorized to sign documents on behalf of the district may sign those documents electronically. Unlike facsimile signatures, which are designed to be used by persons other than the individual whose signature is needed, an electronic signature is intended to be used only by the individual signing the document in situations where the document is electronic or it is inconvenient to sign a document manually. Only the individual whose signature is being used or a person who has been given explicit permission by that individual to use the individual’s signature on a particular document may sign a document with an electronic signature.
Revised: February 16, 2017
Revised: December 17, 2020
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§9:2601, 9:2602, 9:2603, 9:2603.1, 9:2604, 9:2605, 9:2607, 9:2609, 9:2611, 9:2618, 17:81, 17:83, 17:97; 17:414.3
Louisiana Attorney General Opinion Nos. 91-191, 92-373
Board minutes, 2-16-17, 12-17-20
Orleans Parish School Board