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STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> ��pF LOUcsr DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> X99 LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> P.O.BOX 4368 <br /> BATON ROUGE,LA 70821 <br /> °oNFioENc� (225)219-5600 <br /> «o»•' <br /> FAX:(225)381-7271 <br /> 1-800-842-6630 <br /> www.ethics.1a.gov <br /> November 12, 2025 <br /> Charles Riddle, III <br /> Avoyelles Parish D.A./ 12th J.D. <br /> P.O. Box 1200 <br /> Marksville, Louisiana 71351 <br /> Re: Docket No. 2025-550 <br /> Advisory Opinion <br /> Dear Mr. Riddle: <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics ("Board"), at its meeting on November 7, 2025, considered your <br /> request for an advisory opinion as to whether the Code of Governmental Ethics (Code) prohibit <br /> the Avoyelles Public Charter School from appointing Hope Gagnard, its CPA, to the Avoyelles <br /> Public Charter School Board. <br /> FACTS PROVIDED <br /> Avoyelles Public Charter School is a nonprofit corporation and a Type 2 Charter School governed <br /> by a Board of Directors. It was granted a charter in 1999. The By-laws state that no more than 8 <br /> members shall be on the Board of the Corporation. As of now, there are only 4 members due to <br /> death and retirement. You stated that the members have been discussing the appointment of Hope <br /> Gagnard. Hope Gagnard works for the Ducote and Company, Certified Public Accounting firm <br /> that contracts with the Charter to do their accounting for the school. You stated if this Hope <br /> Gagnard were selected, she would recuse herself from any item which determine the pay for the <br /> Ducote and Company. <br /> LAw <br /> La. R.S. 17:3996B(20)provides that all officers and employees of charter schools are subject to <br /> the Code of Governmental Ethics. <br /> La. R.S. 42:1111C(2)(d)provides that no public servant and no legal entity in which the public <br /> servant exercises control or owns an interest in excess of twenty-five percent, shall receive any <br /> thing of economic value for or in consideration of services rendered, or to be rendered,to or for <br /> any person during his public service unless such services are: (d)Neither performed for nor <br /> compensated by any person from whom such public servant would be prohibited by R.S. <br /> 42:1115(A)(1) or(B) from receiving a gift. <br /> La. R.S. 42:1115A provides that no public servant shall solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, <br /> anything of economic value as a gift or gratuity from any person or from any officer, director, <br /> agent, or employee of such person, if such public servant knows or reasonably should know that <br /> Page 1 of 3 (BD 2025-550) <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />