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Board adopts revised special-education policy clarifying seclusion/restraint and requiring cameras in certain classrooms
Summary
The board approved revisions to policy G-2.4C clarifying seclusion and restraint procedures, crisis intervention/CPI training, reporting for restraints over three minutes, and a separate policy (G-2.4C0.2) requiring cameras in self-contained special-education classrooms that meet a 50% IEP threshold; cameras will be activated Feb. 1 and recordings retained for 30 days.
The Terrebonne Parish Education Technology and Policy Committee approved two related policy revisions affecting special education: a revised G-2.4C (education of students with exceptionalities) and G-2.4C0.2 (cameras in special-education classrooms).
Speaker 11, representing the special-education department, said the G-2.4C revision clarifies seclusion and restraint language and adds crisis-intervention guidance. "We do not use seclusion in Terrebonne Parish," the speaker said, distinguishing the district's calming rooms (adult supervised, doors unlocked) from seclusion. The policy includes CPI (crisis prevention intervention) training for teachers and paraprofessionals and sets reporting timelines: if a physical restraint lasts more than three minutes, staff must report the incident to administration and the state and notify the child's parent or legal guardian by the end of the day.
Separately, the committee approved a policy change to require cameras in self-contained special-education classrooms where 50% or more of students have an individualized education program (IEP) for at least 50% of the school day. Speaker 11 said Terrebonne Parish already has installed cameras in most such classrooms; the cameras will be activated Feb. 1 after testing. Board members asked about retention and access: Speaker 11 said recordings will be retained for 30 days and will not be available to parents as a live stream; administration and law enforcement may view footage if there is an incident that prompts review.
Board members raised concerns widely balanced between protecting students and preserving trusting relationships in classrooms. "Relationships supersede all of this," Speaker 11 said in response to comments about training and staff judgment. Motions to approve both policy revisions were moved and seconded and passed without recorded roll-call opposition.
The policies were presented as district implementations of recommended guidance (some items originating from a vendor identified in the meeting as Forethought), and the board asked staff to finalize procedures for activation, testing and communications to schools and families before cameras go live.
