Ouachita Parish policy committee tables land-sales rule, approves several statute-driven policy updates

The Ouachita Parish Policy Review Committee on Aug. 13 tabled development of a proposed policy for handling proceeds from district property sales and recommended board approval of a package of updates that align district policy with recent state laws.

Committee members paused the draft land-sales policy after members described complex ownership histories for several school properties and asked for a legal opinion before the board acts. Committee members discussed three broad options for allocating sale proceeds: keep funds in the school zone, allocate by taxing district, or place proceeds in the district general fund; they also discussed creating a special fund. The committee voted to table the draft pending counsel guidance.

The committee unanimously recommended adoption of six other policy changes that reflect changes in state law or administrative cleanup. Those included a requirement to provide parents online access to instructional materials at no charge under Act 103; removal of a classroom-instruction requirement on internet and cell-phone safety that the 2024 Legislature eliminated (Act 686); revisions to the district's absence-and-excuse policy to allow students, including suspended students, to submit missed work and to give students the number of days they missed to make up assignments; updates to the district's bullying/hazing training policy to reflect the removal of minimum annual training hours (Act 686); changes to expulsion rules to reflect a reduction in the mandatory expulsion floor from four semesters to two for certain weapon and drug offenses (Act 497); restoration of school resource officers as mandatory reporters for child abuse (Act 195); and a requirement to make behavioral-health assessments available for grades 3'12 at no charge to parents when requested, with parental consent and delivered by licensed in-state providers (Act 504).

Why it matters: The land-sales discussion touched on major sums and long-standing property-title questions that affect how the district can deploy one-time receipts for school projects. The other changes bring district policy into conformity with state law; most were noncontroversial in committee, though members asked for clarifying language on how make-up work deadlines will be interpreted and enforced.

Committee discussion and key details

Land-sales policy (draft DFL): Committee members said the district currently lacks a consistent plan for proceeds from property sales and cited a range of ownership histories: donated school sites with reversion clauses, properties acquired with parishwide millage proceeds, and recent sales. Committee members named several properties discussed during the meeting as examples: the former Ouachita Junior site on Nutland Road, the old Sterlington (Stirlton/Starlington) site, a property off Highway 139 (the old Burke School Road area), a parcel outside West Wash(ing)ton High School in the Mineral Springs area, and a small property inside Monroe city limits. Regina (district staff) said recent timber-sale receipts were placed into the general fund and that some more-recent sale proceeds are being held in a special account pending board direction. One committee member noted that a large middle school sold for about $1,200,000 and cautioned that funds spent on construction came from parishwide millage dollars, complicating any attempt to divide proceeds strictly by school-zone boundaries.

Committee members debated three allocation approaches: direct distribution to the school zone where property sits, distribution by taxing district, or deposit to the general fund. Some members argued school-zone allocation could help local schools complete unfinished projects; others warned that in zones with multiple schools a school-zone allocation might prevent nearby schools from accessing needed funds. The committee agreed to request a legal opinion about whether proceeds could be divided among the three (or seven) board-member districts and whether historical funding sources limit the district's authority to divide proceeds. The committee then voted to table the draft pending counsel guidance.

Instructional materials (policy IFA, Act 103): Committee members said the new law requires districts to allow parents to review instructional materials online at no charge and to provide copies made on school equipment at no cost if a parent requests them. K.K., the committee chair, summarized the change: "the big change here is that parents will not be charged if they use their own device to make copies." Staff noted that, in practice, parents already can review materials in person and often access student materials via students' Google/Clever logins; the committee recommended the policy as drafted.

Internet and cell-phone safety instruction (policy IFBGA, Act 686): State statute removed the previously required classroom-instruction mandate on internet and cell-phone safety. The committee approved policy language that removes that mandatory classroom-instruction requirement from district policy.

Student absences and make-up work (policy JBD): The committee reviewed statutory revisions that add a separate category for suspensions and clarify that suspended students may submit missed assignments and be eligible for the same academic credit if work is completed satisfactorily and in a timely manner. Committee members raised practical questions: what constitutes "timely manner" and how make-up deadlines should work for different absence types (excused, unexcused, suspended). After discussion the committee moved to amend the draft to state that a student has the number of days they missed to make up the missed work; the committee voted to recommend that amended language to the board but asked staff to return with clarifying language before final board action.

Bullying and hazing training (policy JCDAF, Act 686): Because the Legislature removed statutory minimum training hours, the committee updated the policy to reflect that change and noted that the state education authority may issue future rules or guidance.

Expulsion (policy JDE, Act 497): The committee approved policy language implementing a statutory change that reduces the mandatory-expulsion floor from four semesters to two for possession of a firearm, knife, or certain drug offenses; the superintendent retains authority to modify suspension length in appropriate cases.

Child-abuse reporting (policy JGCE, Act 195): The committee approved language restoring school resource officers as mandatory reporters, reversing a statutory change from 2024 that had removed that designation.

Behavioral-health support (policy JGCF, Act 504): The committee approved recommending policy that requires the district to make mental-health assessments available to students in grades 3'12 when requested by a guardian, at no charge to the guardian, with parental consent and delivered by a licensed in-state behavioral-health provider. Staff said the services are not automatically provided to all students; they must be requested and documented within the school year and preferably in the first semester when possible.

Votes at a glance (committee recommendations)

- Draft land-sales policy (DFL): Motion to table pending legal counsel review; outcome: tabled/recommended counsel review (motion carried). - Instructional materials (IFA; Act 103): Motion to recommend adoption as drafted; outcome: recommended for board approval (motion carried). - Internet/cell-phone safety instruction removal (IFBGA; Act 686): Motion to recommend adoption; outcome: recommended for board approval (motion carried). - Student absences and make-up work (JBD): Motion to amend to allow students the number of days missed to make up work and recommend amended policy; outcome: recommended for board approval with staff clarification requested (motion carried). - Bullying/hazing training (JCDAF; Act 686): Motion to recommend adoption; outcome: recommended for board approval (motion carried). - Expulsion changes (JDE; Act 497): Motion to recommend adoption; outcome: recommended for board approval (motion carried). - Child-abuse reporting (JGCE; Act 195): Motion to recommend adoption; outcome: recommended for board approval (motion carried). - Behavioral-health support (JGCF; Act 504): Motion to recommend adoption; outcome: recommended for board approval (motion carried).

What comes next

The committee asked staff to seek a legal opinion on the land-sales draft before the board considers a final policy, and staff was asked to return with clearer language about make-up-work deadlines before the full board votes. The committee chair also reminded members that the committee's recommendations will go to the full board, which retains final authority to change any language.