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Interpreter alleges selection secrecy; acting director apologizes and pledges training and more inclusive recruiting
Summary
A certified interpreter told the LCD board he was passed over for an ad hoc advisory committee and said selections felt "secretly handpicked." Acting Director Jana Brousard apologized, called it an oversight, and outlined plans for a standardized training and a recruiting mechanism for future interpreter teams.
During public comment, certified interpreter Gary Morgan said he had expressed interest in joining an ad hoc interpreter advisory committee but was not selected and that local interpreters had not received clear information about opportunities. "It seems to me that the committee members were secretly handpicked," Morgan said at the lectern.
Acting Director Jana Brousard responded and apologized: "First of all, it is my honest sincere apology... I completely forgot it," she told the board, explaining the selection process relied on emailed outreach, board recommendations, and availability at meetings. Brousard said the administration did not intend to exclude local interpreters and described plans to create "a public meeting training for future interpreters recruitment" and other materials to set up interpreters for success at LCD meetings.
Brousard said the goal is to complete recruiting and training materials by spring 2026 and to develop a more transparent process for assembling interpreting teams. She offered to follow up personally with Morgan after the meeting. Morgan had asked that the commission consider including more Louisiana-based interpreters and make future outreach more open and timely.
Board members thanked Morgan for speaking; several commissioners said they supported clarifying recruitment and noted the ad hoc group will be limited from serving as IOC members for two years (to avoid conflicts of interest). The acting director said staff will hold additional outreach and training before expanding the interpreter roster for high-level state meetings.
