Opinion Number

Dear Representative Higginbotham:

You have requested an opinion of this office as to whether a school board can "legally trade Section 16 Land"? For purposes of this opinion, we shall assume that the transaction you have in mind would be classified as an exchange.

Title to sixteenth section lands is vested in the State for the support of public schools; and the State, by action of the Legislature, is empowered to alienate these sixteenth section lands in such a manner as to carry out the purpose of the dedication. Meyer vs. State, 121 So. 604 (La. 1929).

It is the opinion of this office that the…