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Board approves several policy updates including cameras in special‑education rooms and notification change for meetings
Summary
At a policy review meeting the Ouachita Parish School Board approved multiple policies from the recent legislative session and district‑drafted language, including installation of cameras in special‑education classrooms, removal of a state notification requirement for board meetings, and addition of 'military status' to equal‑opportunity policies.
The Ouachita Parish School Board approved a package of policy updates that implement recent legislative changes and district decisions.
Among the items the board approved by voice vote:
- Policy IDDFC: Cameras in special education classrooms. The policy implements a statutory requirement to install audio and video recording in special education classrooms; the district noted it had already installed cameras in all classrooms, including special education rooms, earlier than the law required.
- Policy BCBB: Notification of school board meetings. The board adopted language reflecting Act 374 (as referenced in the meeting) removing the requirement to send meeting notification to the state Commissioner of Administration.
- Policies GAAA and JAA: Equal opportunity updates. Both policies were amended to add "military status" to the list of prohibited bases for discrimination in employment and education, reflecting changes from Act 1 referenced by staff.
- Policy JD: Discipline. The board approved updates extending certain protections against retaliatory measures to school employees in addition to teachers, implementing changes from Act 439.
Each item was introduced by the superintendent or staff and approved after brief discussion. The motion to install cameras in special education rooms noted that the state funded camera installation when the law passed and that the district had already included special education classrooms when it moved to put cameras in all classrooms the previous year.
Why it matters: These updates align district policies with recent legislative changes and clarify administrative procedures for meetings, nondiscrimination protections and disciplinary protections for employees.
All of these policies passed by voice vote; where the transcript recorded no detailed roll call, the motions were recorded as carried. The board said it will receive updated policy manuals as forethought returns revised documents.
