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Board postpones memorandum of understanding with LSU Institute for Childhood Resilience after questions on partners and scope
Summary
The board postponed a memorandum of understanding with LSU Health Shreveport’s Institute for Childhood Resilience after members and the public asked for clarification on the proposed body’s scope, partners and whether the board would be obligated to act on its findings.
Caddo Parish School Board, Shreveport — The Caddo Parish School Board voted on July 15 to postpone consideration of a proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the LSU Health Shreveport Institute for Childhood Resilience after public questions about the project’s partners, scope and the board’s obligations.
Dr. Vincent moved to approve the MOU; Mr. Mayo seconded. Board members and several public commenters then questioned the nature of the proposed joint commission, how much access outside partners would have to students or district data, and whether the board would be expected to implement the commission’s recommendations.
Laura Alderman (introduced by a board member as affiliated with LSU Health Shreveport) described the proposal as a citizen-led effort to assemble ordinary, unpaid community members to produce a two-year strategic plan addressing unmet needs for children across Caddo Parish. “The purpose of the proposed Joint Commission on Children and Youth is to bring together a group of citizens who are not elected officials and who do not have fundraising duties…to begin understanding the needs of children in this community, all children,” Alderman said. She said the process would include a caregiver survey and data-review to guide a strategic plan the commission would deliver to local governmental entities; she emphasized the plan would be advisory and that the proposed committee would have no student-facing contact.
Board members sought clarification about partner organizations listed on the institute’s website. A board member said the site linked to groups whose public statements raised concerns about topics such as LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum; Alderman responded that LSU’s Institute did not control partner organizations’ statements and that the institute’s referenced partner “PACE” stood for “positive and adverse childhood experiences,” not an unrelated advocacy group.
After the public discussion, Board member Mr. Bowman moved to postpone the MOU so the board could review the institute’s materials and web links; Miss Tramiel seconded. The board voted to postpone the item. The clerk recorded the motion as postponed; no further action was taken at the July 15 meeting.
The transcript contains multiple questions and clarifications from board members; the MOU’s postponement was framed as a request for clearer documentation and for the author or district staff to return with corrected links and a more detailed explanation of the commission’s role and the district’s obligations under the agreement.
