Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Students, teachers and residents press Caddo Parish board on discipline rules, pay and transparency
Summary
Public commenters at the Caddo Parish School Board meeting asked for clearer discipline policies (including cell-phone rules on buses), a local pay plan beyond a state amendment, and greater transparency on items placed on consent; a student demanded written criteria for graduation roles.
Several parents, teachers and students used the board’s visitor section April 21 to press trustees for clarity and local action on discipline policies, teacher pay and transparency.
John Glover criticized the board’s executive committee process, saying placing items on consent and discussing agenda items before public comment leaves residents at a disadvantage. ‘‘When you don’t give us that, you put us at a disadvantage,’’ he said, urging the board to be more transparent about items that affect constituents.
Student Ishmael Swinney, a senior, told trustees he would graduate without being offered a speaking role and said the district had given inconsistent explanations about selection criteria (class rank versus teacher recommendation). ‘‘How are students supposed to believe in the value of true leadership and service if those things are not reflected in the moments that matter most?’’ he asked, requesting a written, transparent standard and asking to be considered if flexibility exists.
Andrea Labor asked for specifics about proposed policy revisions (item 6.02), particularly whether cell-phone use will be allowed on buses and how parents would contact students if devices are restricted. Board members directed her to staff and a district representative in the room for follow-up.
Sheila Crosby Wimberley expressed concern about school closures in predominantly Black neighborhoods and urged the board to provide better direct communication with affected families. Jordan Thomas, speaking on results of a membership survey, said more than half of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers members the union polled support Constitutional Amendment 3, a proposed state constitutional change to create permanent statewide salary increases; she urged the district to develop a local tiered pay structure regardless of the amendment’s outcome to address recruitment and retention.
President Little closed the visitor section after the last card was read and asked staff to follow up where appropriate. Several board members acknowledged the student speakers and said staff would be asked to respond to specific concerns after the meeting.
