Committee forwards code of conduct and several policy updates to full board, all motions pass 10–0

The St. Bernard Parish School Board General Committee considered a package of policy updates and unanimously sent each item to the full board with recommendations during the Jan. 13 meeting.

Mister Warner introduced a draft code of conduct for Louisiana school board members and the committee voted 10–0 to forward it to the full board. The committee also discussed a resolution setting the dates, times and places for regular and committee meetings and agreed to send a proposal to combine the November regular and committee meetings into a single November 17 session for full-board consideration.

Policy staff member Morales presented several policy revisions and the committee voted 10–0 to recommend each to the full board. Highlights:

• BCBB (notification of school board meetings): Presented as an update tied to Act 374; the change removes the requirement to notify the commissioner of administration about every meeting.

• DFK (sale of surplus equipment and supplies): Presented under Act 161 to permit sale, trade or buyback programs for used computing devices with revenue to support technology improvements and with required secure data erasure.

• DJE (procurement and federal debarment checks): Presented as a FEMA-derived recommendation requiring the district to check SAM.gov for debarred or suspended parties before awarding federally funded contracts and retain evidence of status.

• EBBC (emergency crisis management): Presented as an Act 425-driven requirement to submit school-mapping data to law enforcement and emergency-preparedness offices; staff said the district has already implemented the practice.

• GBC, GBN and GBRA (Act 409-related background, dismissal and employee conduct policies): Revisions address hiring, dismissal and reporting requirements tied to the Department of Children and Family Services State Central Registry and were sent to the full board with recommendations.

• JGCF (student mental-health screenings): Updated under Act 504 to allow mental-health screenings for students kindergarten through grade 12 if funding is available; presenters and board members clarified screenings would be offered at parent request (not required).

All motions related to these policies passed in committee by a 10–0 recorded vote and were forwarded to the full board for final action.