Superintendent details Policy HH updates, attendance hearing office and staff listening plan

At an Orleans Parish School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Fatima Fulmore provided an overview of the district’s student safety and well‑being work under Policy HH and described operational steps the district is taking on attendance and staff supports.

Fulmore said the Orleans Parish School Board revised Policy HH in November 2024 to reduce violence and improve supports for students and families. She summarized an April summit at Walter L. Cohen High School where student panelists discussed how social media affects conflict and suggested peer‑based approaches to de‑escalation. “Our students’ panelists just did a phenomenal job,” Fulmore said, and the district reported reaching stakeholders through convenings tied to the policy work.

The superintendent said the district updated its student‑safety toolkit in March to include resources on safe firearm storage, a panic‑button notification capability, crisis‑response and youth‑suicide‑prevention materials. Those toolkit updates were presented as supplemental resources for schools and staff implementing Policy HH.

On attendance, Fulmore announced the creation of a hearing office to handle chronic‑absence cases in a way similar to the district’s behavior‑intervention hearings. She said the district held a series of convenings this year—described in the presentation as eight stakeholder sessions involving school leaders, counselors and social workers—aimed at identifying contributors to chronic absenteeism and possible supports. Lauron Kraton was credited as directing that work.

Fulmore also discussed internal operations: a TNTP organizational assessment completed about 18 months earlier will now move from diagnosis to action through a staff listening and support initiative led by Sam Pichon in human resources. The plan will use staff surveys, departmental listening sessions and cross‑functional conversations to inform professional development in September.

Fulmore closed the report with two additional items of community relevance: a reminder that hurricane season began June 1 and a recap of a visit from retired Lieutenant General Russell Honore, whose preparedness advice included packing a three‑to‑five‑day supply and evacuating early; Fulmore cited the visit to underscore the importance of emergency planning. She also highlighted Travis Hill graduations and the district’s partnership with the sheriff’s office to provide educational continuity for students who are confined.

No board motions or formal votes were recorded on these items during the remarks; the presentation was delivered as the superintendent’s report and concluded with board thanks.