Board discusses academic calendar, parent conferences and whether non‑teaching staff must take leave
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Summary
The committee reviewed proposed academic calendars and debated whether parent‑teacher conferences at semester boundaries are useful. Members also pressed staff on whether central‑office and non‑teaching staff must take leave during scheduled school breaks; staff said district practice mirrors other K–12 districts and site‑level exceptions exist.
Caddo Parish School Board members on Dec. 16 questioned aspects of the proposed academic calendars and how the district communicates parent‑teacher conference opportunities.
Public commenter and board members asked whether parent conferences can be requested at times other than the end of nine‑week reporting periods. "Can they call the school at any time and make a conference with their teacher?" a board member asked. Superintendent Burton replied, "Absolutely, yes ma'am... If they feel at any point throughout the 9 weeks... please contact the school and we will make arrangements for a conference."
Board members also expressed concerns that a December conference — at the end of a semester — might offer limited benefit when grades are already finalized. Burton said conferences are intended both to review past performance and to prepare families for the next semester, including meetings with next‑semester teachers and counselors.
Separately, multiple members raised questions about whether non‑school‑site staff (central office, maintenance, food service) are required to use leave when schools are closed for breaks. The superintendent and the board attorney said the district follows a policy that closes district offices for certain holidays and that local K–12 practice differs from state employee leave rules; the matter was discussed but no policy change was recorded in the executive committee session.
The chair listed the academic calendar item (7.01) on the consent agenda for the full board meeting; other calendar and leave questions will be clarified in materials sent to the board and at future meetings.