Policy refresher urges clearer separation of policy and procedures, warns on public-records and executive-session risks

Curtis "Bob" Hammons, a presenter leading the board policy refresher, told Lafayette Parish School Board members at a workshop that most draft policies arrive from a private consulting firm and are reviewed thoroughly by staff before they reach the board. He outlined the internal review steps, statutory checks and implementation tasks the board should expect before and after adopting policies.

Hammons said the process typically begins with Forethought Consulting drafting a proposed policy, which goes to the district risk manager and other staff for legal and operational review. "I write a letter to the superintendent saying, I've looked at this pretty carefully. I think it is consistent with law and policy," Hammons said. He added that staff and legal review may remove or reword provisions before a final draft reaches the board.

The training stressed why that pre‑approval review matters. Hammons noted that the legislature passed hundreds of acts in a recent session — he cited "792 acts of the legislature" — and said staff must check each draft against statutes, state regulations and effective dates. He reminded members that the district fiscal year begins July 1 and that, by state law, the budget must be submitted by Sept. 15.

Hammons highlighted a recent statutory conflict involving the district's…