| Advisory Opinion request as to whether the Code of Governmental Ethics ("Code") permits Christy Cox to serve as an uncertified substitute teacher for the Franklin Parish School District while her husband, Brady Cox, serves as the Principal of Crowville School. |
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Brady Cox serves as principal of Crowville School, a combination elementary and middle school in Franklin Parish. Mr. Cox was first employed by the Franklin Parish School District on August 7, 2016. Mr. Cox was employed as principal of Crowville School on July 1, 2024. Mr. Cox is married to Christy Cox. Mrs. Cox is not a certified teacher but is interested in being employed as a substitute teacher. She has substituted previously on and off since 2014. A substitute teacher is called to work on those days on which a regular teacher is absent. Mrs. Cox has been cleared to work as a substitute teacher in any school except Crowville School due to the fact that her husband was appointed to serve as the principal of that school on July 1, 2024.
During the 2022-2023 school year, Mrs. Cox substituted at Crowville School sporadically, and Mr. Cox was appointed Assistant Principal that year. During the 2023-2024 school year, Mrs. Cox substituted at Crowville School from August 4, 2023, to May 23, 2024. Mrs Cox has never been a regular employee of the district and has never received health insurance, nor have retirement contributions been submitted on her behalf. Rather, she has been employed as needed as a substitute teacher.
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La. R.S. 42:1119A. No member of the immediate family of an agency head shall be employed in his agency.
La. R.S. 42:1119C(2). The provisions of this Section shall not prohibit the continued employment of any public employee nor shall it be construed to hinder, alter, or in any way affect normal promotional advancements for such public employee where a member of public employees' immediate family becomes the agency head of such public employee's agency, provided that such public employee has been employed in the agency for a period of at least one year prior to the member of the public employee's immediate family becoming the agency head.
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Adopt the proposed Advisory Opinion.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
Mallory Guillot |
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