The St. Mary Parish School Board discipline committee voted Jan. 5, 2026 to recommend the full board adopt a revised school bus discipline matrix that tightens consequences for student misconduct on buses and removes a separate "minor infraction" category.

Ronnie Lewis, identified in the meeting as the supervisor of transportation for the Samuel Paris school board, told the committee the revisions focus on consequences rather than changing offense categories. "We're gonna be looking at not the levels, but the consequences of having consequences for actions on the bus," Lewis said, summarizing the committee's intent to give drivers clearer tools to respond quickly to unsafe behavior.

The proposed matrix reiterates that the bus operator is the authority on the bus and that the student code of conduct applies to bus routes. Under the revised framework, offenses are grouped into level categories with specific penalties. The draft lists the following examples of consequences discussed in the meeting: Level 1 — detention of 1 to 2 hours with warnings and escalating bus suspension for repeat offenses; Level 2 — initial 2-day warning and 3–5 day suspensions for repeat offenses; Level 3 — 1–3 days of in-school suspension (ISSP) and 5–10 day bus suspensions for repeat offenses; and Level 4 — referral back to the student conduct process with possible out-of-school suspension, recommendation for long-term suspension or expulsion, change of placement, or bus removal. Presenters reiterated that physical fighting on a bus is treated as a major safety violation that can lead to law enforcement involvement and administrative hearings.

Grant Guillory, one of the contributors who helped draft the matrix, told the committee that harsher early penalties are intended to support driver safety on routes where there is no onboard support. "We give so many chances before we get to that point," Guillory said. "That's why we felt doing it a little harsher may make the difference."

Committee members raised questions about cellphone use, recording and whether verbal altercations should be treated the same as physical fights. Presenters noted the student code of conduct already governs cellphone rules (for example, requiring phones be powered down or kept in a bag or pocket) and said the draft could add explicit bus language if the committee preferred. On the distinction between verbal and physical incidents, presenters described the protocol that physical altercations require pulling the bus over, contacting 911 and involving law enforcement, while heated verbal exchanges may be reviewed via camera footage and referred to administration to determine appropriate sanctions.

A committee member moved to recommend the board adopt the proposed bus discipline matrix; Natasha Jackson seconded the motion. The chair called a voice vote and the motion carried. The committee voted to forward the recommendation to the full board for final action.

The committee did not set a date for board consideration during the meeting; the recommendation now goes to the full St. Mary Parish School Board for review and a final vote.