Caddo Parish committee backs clarification to agenda-preparation rule, reiterates 24-hour notice

The Caddo Parish School Board Policy Review Committee on Feb. 18 recommended that the full board approve changes to policy BCBD, which the committee says clarifies long-standing practice for preparing and adding items to meeting agendas.

Board counsel Mr. Abrams told the committee the revision makes explicit that, "After the executive committee sets the proposed agenda for the upcoming school board meeting, items may be added to the proposed agenda by the superintendent or board president if the items are placed on the agenda more than 24 hours before the scheduled school board meeting, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays." The committee voted to forward the proposed revision to the Caddo Parish School Board for consideration at the board meeting identified in the committee motion.

The change is intended to reflect current practice and to reduce confusion about when an item can be added without requiring a two-thirds vote. Mr. Abrams explained that if backup materials were not provided before or during the executive committee meeting, "School board shall not act on any agenda item for which backup material or information was not provided before or during the executive committee meeting with the exception of bid agenda items. However, any agenda item may be considered for school board action with a two-thirds vote of members present, regardless of when the backup material and information was provided." He added that failing to raise an objection prior to adoption of the agenda typically waives the point of order under standard parliamentary procedure.

Committee members debated how the clarified wording affects individual board members' ability to add items. Dr. Vincent said he was concerned that the policy as written could be read to give the superintendent greater practical ability to place items on the agenda than individual board members; he asked whether board members have the same ability to request placement. Secretary and district official Mr. Burton said that when a board member requests an item the secretary typically adds it for consideration and that the policy allows the board to send last-minute items to committee. Board member Mr. Rochelle defended the superintendent's ability to add urgent items, saying superintendents sometimes learn facts board members do not until shortly before meetings.

Public commenters raised similar concerns about notice. Jackie Lansdale, president of Red River United, and John Glover urged clearer public notice and warned that late additions can prevent meaningful public vetting.

Motion and next steps: Committee member Jessica Yates moved to recommend the BCBD revision to the full Caddo Parish School Board; the motion was seconded and approved by the committee by show of hands. The transcript does not record an itemized roll-call tally. The committee will forward the revision for consideration by the full board on the date stated in the committee motion.

The committee's discussion emphasized codifying existing practice while preserving a procedural avenue (a two-thirds vote) when backup materials are missing; it did not change the statutory minimum notice the state requires.