FEBRUARY 8, 2011
DRAFT
THE VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, ON FEBRUARY 8, 2011 AT 10:00AM, 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LA. VICE-PRESIDENT FORD CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:
BERYL FORD, VICE PRESIDENT
RANDI GLEASON
MEL HARRIS
ROBERT PYNES JR.
DOUG BRANDON
JERRY JEANE
MIKE PERKINS
RANDY MARTIN
STEVE WOODS
GERALD COOLEY
ABSENT: VERNON TRAVIS - BUSINESS OBLIGATION
JOHN BLANKENBAKER - BUSINESS OBLIGATION
There was also present Mr. Jackie D. Self, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Dr. Cindy Gillespie.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Beryl Ford.
Vice-President Ford welcomed guests including the Mayor’s Youth Council to the Board meeting.
On motion of Mel Harris, seconded by Randi Gleason, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of February 3, 2011.
On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Randi Gleason, seconded by Gerald Cooley, the Board voted to approve the following resignations:
Mirts, Whitney, teacher/LJHS
Squyres, Sonja, headstart teacher/ELE
Jeane, Stacy D., lease bus driver/Evans
Buckner, Francis, Sped aide/LJHS
On recommendation of Superintendent Self, and on motion of Randi Gleason, seconded by Doug Brandon, the Board voted to approve the following termination:
Stephanie Sanders, headstart teacher/AES
Two Public Comment Cards had been presented to Superintendent Self and Vice-President Ford. Stephanie Sanders and Kim Holton made statements to the Board.
Jerry Jeane commented that he thought that further investigation into this matter was necessary before recommending termination. Doug Brandon asked for a clarification of the OCS investigation. Asa Skinner, District Attorney, confirmed there was a valid report from OCS and stated that this report was confidential. After some discussion, and on motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by Jerry Jeane, the Board voted to amend the motion to read Leave Without Pay instead of Termination and the Board approved for Stephanie Sanders to be placed on Leave Without Pay status for ninety (90) days.
On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Jerry Jeane, seconded by Mike Perkins, the Board voted to approve the following requests for a leave without pay:
Hillman, JoAnn, custodian/Simpson-MEDICAL LWOP 12-7-10/3-14-11
Richardson, Sharon, cook/RHS-OTHER LWOP 1-7-11/5-27-11 (hand injury)
Roy, Naomi, Sped aide/Hicks-MEDICAL LWOP 11-2-10/3-6-11 (extended)
Newhouse, Belinda, custodian/Pitkin-MEDICAL LWOP 5-11-10/3-14-11 (extended)
Williams, Trina, Sped Aide/WLE-MEDICAL LWOP 1-25-11/5-27-11
On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Gerald Cooley, seconded by Doug Brandon, the Board voted to approve the following list of new employees:
Lee, Tim, teacher/PES-replacing Penny Carey (resigned)
Stanley, Peggy, Sped Aide/SPE-replacing Gabriela Nazario (I/S trns to office aide)
Sims, Marcy, Sped Aide/RHS-replacing Betty Presley (retired)
Frey, Brandi, teacher/NPE-replacing Linda Martinez (extended sick leave)
On recommendation of Superintendent Self and on motion of Randi Gleason, seconded by Gerald Cooley, the Board voted to approve the following employee transfers:
Nazario, Gabriela, Sped aide/SPE-I/S trns to gen fund aide-replacing Barbara Zimmerman(trns to LHS)
Zimmerman, Barbara, gen fund aide/SPE-trns to LHS-replacing Suzanne Rowe (trns to teacher)
Williams, Bonita, Sped teacher/PES-I/S trns to 4th grade-replacing Misty Vaughn
Lawrence, Julie, Title I aide/PES- trns to Sped aide @PHS
On motion of Steve Woods, seconded by Jerry Jeane, the Board voted to accept the following employee retirements:
Gaither, Janice, headstart teacher/ELE
Hinson, Sammy, Jr., teacher/RHS
On recommendation of Superintendent Self, and on motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by Gerald Cooley, the Board approved policy additions and/or changes.
TEST SECURITY
The Vernon Parish School Board shall take every precaution to assure that all tests administered within the school system shall be conducted in such a manner so as not to compromise in any way the testing results. For criterion-referenced, norm-referenced, alternate assessments and certain other tests administered by or through the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) including End of Course Testing (EOCT), testing materials and procedures, as well as any electronic data, computer media, or passwords related to student testing, shall be properly supervised in strict compliance with regulations outlined by BESE and the School Board. In addition, all secure tests and test documents shall be stored under lock and key in designated areas when not in use.
Any teacher or other school personnel who allows or breaches test security, including unauthorized access to electronic data, shall be disciplined in accordance with statutory provisions, policy and regulations adopted by BESE and the School Board, and any and all laws that may be enacted by the state.
Employees shall be responsible for reporting irregularities or improprieties in the administration of standardized tests. Although procedures for reporting irregularities to district personnel are listed below, employees may report such information directly to the Louisiana Department of Education, which shall investigate the allegations. No employee shall make a report of irregularities or improprieties in the administration of standardized tests knowing that the information included is false. No employee shall knowingly obstruct the procedures for receiving and investigating a report of irregularities or improprieties in the administration of standardized tests.
No public school administrator or member of a School Board shall retaliate against an employee who in good faith participates in an investigation of testing administration improprieties or irregularities. Retaliation shall include discharging, demoting, suspending, threatening, harassing, or discriminating of an employee who in good faith reports testing administration improprieties or irregularities.
CELLULAR TELEPHONES
All cell phones or other similar technological devices with imaging or text-messaging capabilities that are the property of students, test administrators, and school test coordinators must be placed in and remain in the off position and stored in a secure area as designated and supervised by a school administrator during test administration or any other time that test booklets and answer documents are present.
VIOLATIONS OF TEST SECURITY
It shall be a violation of test security for any person to do any of the following:
1. Administer tests in a manner that is inconsistent with the administrative instructions provided by the Louisiana Department of Education and the School Board that would give examinees an unfair advantage or disadvantage;
2. Give examinees access to test questions prior to testing;
3. Examine any test item at any time (except for students during the test or test administrators while providing the accommodations Tests Read Aloud or Communication Assistance, Transferred Answers, or Answers Recorded for students determined to be eligible for those accommodations);
4. At any time, copy, reproduce, record, store electronically, discuss, or use in a manner inconsistent with test regulations all or part of any secure test booklet, answer document, or supplementary secure materials;
5. Coach examinees in any manner during testing or alter or interfere with examinees' responses in any manner;
6. Provide answers to students in any manner during the test, including provision of cues, clues, hints, and/or actual answers in any form -- written, printed, verbal or nonverbal;
7. Administer published parallel, previously administered, or current forms of any statewide assessment as a practice test or study guide;
8. Fail to follow security regulations for distribution and return of secure test booklets, answer documents, supplementary secure materials, as well as overages as directed; or fail to account for and secure test materials before, during, or after testing;
9. Conduct testing in environments that differ from the usual classroom environment without prior written permission from the Louisiana Department of Education, Division of Assessments and Accountability;
10. Fail to report any testing irregularities to the District Test Coordinator (a testing irregularity is any incident in test handling or administration that leads to a question regarding the security of the test or the accuracy of the test data), who must report such incidents to the Louisiana Department of Education, Division of Assessments and Accountability; all secure materials must be kept in locked storage at both the district and school levels; secure materials must never be left in open areas or unattended.
11. Participate in, direct, aid, counsel, assist in, encourage, or fail to report any of the acts prohibited in this section.
STATEMENT OF ASSURANCE
A Statement of Assurance regarding the Board's test security policy shall be submitted annually to the Louisiana Department of Education, Division of Assessments and Accountability. This statement shall include the name of the individual designated by the Superintendent to procure test materials.
A Statement of Assurance regarding the School Board’s End of Course (EOC) disaster plan shall also be submitted annually to the Louisiana Department of Education, Division of Assessments and Accountability. The disaster plan shall provide the necessary steps to be followed in the event of a major disaster that results in the disabling of computers during EOC testing.
PROCEDURES FOR TEST SECURITY
Test materials, including all test booklets, answer documents, supplementary secure materials containing secure test questions, video tapes, and completed observation sheets, shall be kept secure and accounted for in accordance with the procedure specified in the test administration manuals and other communications provided by the Louisiana Department of Education.
Secure test materials are those materials that contain test items or student responses and to which access is restricted. Secure test materials include student test booklets, student answer documents, and any other materials that contain test items or student responses.
Procedures for the security of test materials will include:
1. The District Test Coordinator will provide for and assure the security of all test materials prior to distribution to the schools and upon return of test materials from the schools.
All test materials, except district and school test coordinator manuals and test administration manuals, test booklets, answer documents, and supplementary secure materials shall be kept in a designated, locked secure storage area prior to, during, and after administration of any test; all secure materials, including any parallel forms of a test, shall be kept in locked storage at both the district and school levels; secure materials must never be left in open areas or unattended; test administrators are to be given access to the tests and any supplementary secure materials only on the day the test is to be administered, and these are to be retrieved immediately after testing is completed for the day and stored in a designated, locked, secure, storage area each day of testing.
All materials will be kept locked in storage and secured at all times until distribution to school test coordinators. Any access to the storage area while tests are secured at the district level will made through the District Test Coordinator or designated support staff, who must accompany any one needing access to the area and remain until the area can be secured. A record of who entered the area, the date, time and duration, and purpose will be maintained.
Before receipt of the test materials, the school test coordinator and building level principal shall provide to the District Test Coordinator verification that a locked and secured storage area has been designated for test materials. Test materials must be delivered to the school by the school test coordinator and/or principal and immediately be placed in locked storage. The school test coordinator and the building level principal will provide for and assure the security of all test materials prior to, during, and after test administration. They shall also monitor the return of all materials at the end of each testing session and shall document in writing along with each test administrator, the distribution of and return of all test materials checked out. Except during testing sessions, all materials will be kept in locked storage. No one but the principal and school test administrator shall have access to the secured area for any reason.
2. Only the principal, school test coordinator, school coordinator and/or assistant principal will be allowed to handle secured test materials prior to and/or during distribution and return of materials. Handling of materials is limited to organizing materials for distribution and specifically does not include reviewing tests or analyzing test items.
3. A list of the names of individuals at the school who will have access to the test materials before and after testing shall be submitted by the school test coordinator to the District Test Coordinator at the time testing materials are received. All individuals who have access to test materials and student test data and/or administer tests must receive professional development on test security and test administration. Only personnel trained in test security and administration shall be allowed to have access to or administer any statewide assessments. Access to secure test materials by school personnel shall mean physically handling the materials, but does not include reading, reviewing, or analyzing test items, either before or after testing, which are prohibited.
4. The Superintendent shall designate annually one individual in the district as District Test Coordinator, and, if necessary, one individual as Backup District Test Coordinator, who shall be authorized to procure test materials which are utilized in testing programs administered by or through BESE or the Louisiana Department of Education. The name of the individuals so designated shall be provided in writing to the Division of Assessments and Accountability, Louisiana Department of Education, and included on the Statement of Assurance.
If during the academic year the person appointed as District Test Coordinator changes, the Superintendent shall notify the LDE, Division of Assessments and Accountability in writing within fifteen (15) days of the change of appointment.
The District Test Coordinator will provide annually professional development for school test coordinators and principals to include all aspects of this policy and all test regulations and procedures presented in the district coordinator's, school test coordinator's and test administrators' manuals and shall maintain documentation of attendance on file for one calendar year. The building level principal and/or school test coordinator will provide professional development as outlined above for all other individuals authorized to handle secure test materials.
5. The school test coordinator will provide professional development to all test administrators on both test security and test administration as outlined in this policy and in the school test coordinator's and test administrators' manuals. Documentation of the participation of all test administrators in professional development shall be maintained for one calendar year. All test administrators are required to attend professional development sessions related to testing.
6. All persons involved in the administration of tests or that have access to test materials or student test data shall annually receive proper training and development for handling and securing all testing materials, as well as proper security maintenance, access to electronic data and confidentiality requirements. A record of such activities shall be maintained by the Board. Such activities shall be coordinated and supervised by the District Test Coordinator. School testing coordinators shall in turn inservice all school level personnel having access to testing materials on security, administration, and confidentiality of individual or aggregated student test data.
7. All test administrators and proctors shall be required to sign the Oath of Security and return it to the School Test Coordinator to keep on file for three (3) years. The School Test Coordinator and principal shall be required to sign an Oath of Security and return it to the District Test Coordinator to be kept on file at the School Board office for three (3) years.
8. The Vernon Parish School Board shall ensure that individual student test data in electronic and paper format are protected from unauthorized access and disclosure. The District Test Coordinator and other authorized users of the LEAPweb Reporting System, the LEAPdata Query System, and the Enhanced Assessment of Grade Level Expectations (EAGLE) System shall be responsible for ensuring the security of all passwords, any disks or CD's with downloaded individual student test data, and student-level data open on a computer screen. Any student information from these systems shall not be disclosed to anyone other than a state, district, or school official, or parent/guardian as defined by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). All users who are granted a password to these systems shall abide by FERPA provisions.
School level passwords for access to individual school data shall be provided to school principals by the District Test Coordinator as requested. Principals shall be responsible for distributing the password as needed to school personnel and to provide for security and confidentiality of the school level password.
All users shall be required to sign a security agreement guaranteeing they will not share any password with unauthorized individuals and maintain the confidentiality of student data. A copy of the security agreement shall be sent to the District Test Coordinator for safekeeping, or for school users, maintained by the principal of each school. Signed security agreements shall be valid until the District Test Coordinator receives notification that the Security Agreement available online has been revised. A new security agreement shall be signed by all users each year after the new password letter for schools and districts has been automatically generated in August of each year. If a breach in security occurs, principals shall immediately contact the District Test Coordinator or his/her backup for a replacement password. Users who have access to these systems and leave their positions at a district or school site shall not use or share any passwords. District Test Coordinators shall send their signed security agreements for the Louisiana Department of Education.
9. Any testing irregularities including anonymous complaints, access to electronic data, missing test materials, or instances of plagiarism or excessive wrong-to-right erasures on a test, or breaches in test security, including access to electronic data, will be reported in writing to the District Test Coordinator, who will conduct an investigation and report the findings to the Superintendent.
Investigation Process
Procedures for investigating any testing irregularity shall follow the procedures outlined in Bulletin 118, Statewide Assessment Standards and Practices, but shall include the following:
a. In instances where any testing irregularities may have occurred, an initial written report of the alleged irregularity shall be prepared by the site administrator where the instance occurred. Said documentation shall then be forwarded to the building principal, school test coordinator, the District Test Coordinator, and the Superintendent.
b. The District Test Coordinator shall review the allegation of test security violation and conduct an investigation of any such allegations, documenting all investigative activities. The formal investigation will include, but not be limited to:
i. The location of the designated, locked, secure area for storage of materials shall be examined, and the individuals with access to secure materials shall be identified;
ii. Interviews regarding testing administration and security procedures shall be conducted with the principal, school test coordinator(s), test administrator(s), and proctor(s) at the identified schools. All individuals who had access to the test materials at any time shall be interviewed;
iii. Interviews shall be conducted with students in the identified classes regarding testing procedures, layout of the classroom, access to test materials before the test, and access to unauthorized materials during testing;
iv. Compilation of any documents to support or to refute allegations made. All individuals who had access to the test materials at any time must be interviewed.
A written summary of the findings of the investigation shall be provided the Superintendent.
c. If the investigation conducted provides evidence to indicate that a breach of test security did indeed occur, individuals involved in such security breach shall be identified, and depending upon the nature of the violation, appropriate corrective and/or punitive action may be pursued.
(1) Students found to have purposefully violated test security shall have test results voided and will be referred to the site administrator for appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with provisions of the Vernon Parish School Board Policy Manual.
(2) Any teachers or other school personnel found to have purposefully violated test security shall be charged with violation of state and/or parish policy and disciplinary action shall be pursued in accordance with the provisions of state statutes, with direction from the Vernon Parish School Board.
d. After completion of the investigation, the School Board shall provide a report of the investigation and a written plan of action to the State Superintendent within thirty (30) calendar days of the initiation of the investigation. At a minimum, the report shall include the nature of the situation, the time and place of occurrence, and the names of the persons involved in or witness to the occurrence.
e. In accordance with provisions of BESE's Test Security Policy, it is understood that the Louisiana Department of Education may conduct its own investigation into allegations of test security violations. In such instances, the District Test Coordinator and parish Superintendent will aid and assist state department officials in the conduction of their investigation and provide documentation of information obtained in local investigative efforts.
10. All test materials, including all test booklets, answer documents, administrators' manuals, and supplementary secure materials, shall be accounted for in accordance with the procedure specified in the examination program administration manuals and other communications provided the Louisiana Department of Education. Secure test materials include test administrators' manuals, test booklets, answer documents, and any supplementary secure materials.
11. Vernon Parish will follow all procedures as outlined in the District Test Coordinator's manual, the school test - coordinator's manual, and test administrator's manual, as well as procedures which govern access to electronically shared individual test scores. Those procedures not already addressed in this policy include:
a. All test booklets, answer documents, and supplementary secure materials shall be kept in a designated, locked secure storage area prior to, during, and after administration of any test; all secure materials, including any parallel forms of a test, shall be kept in locked storage at both the district and school levels; secure materials must never be left in open areas or unattended;
b. Test administrators are to be given access to the tests and any supplementary secure materials only on the day the test is administered, and these are to be retrieved immediately after testing is completed for the day and stored in a designated, locked, secure storage area each day of testing.
b. All test booklets, answer documents, and supplementary secure materials shall be accounted for and written documentation kept by test administrators and proctors for each point at which test materials are distributed and returned.
c. Any discrepancies noted in the serial numbers of test booklets, answer documents, and any supplementary secure materials, or the quantity received from contractors shall be reported to the Division of Assessments and Accountability (LDE) by the school district's Test Coordinator prior to the administration of the test.
d. In the event the test booklets, answer documents, or supplementary secure materials are determined to be missing while in the possession of the school or district or in the event of any other testing irregularities or breaches of security, the District Test Coordinator shall immediately notify by telephone the Division of Assessments and Accountability (LDE) and follow the detailed procedures for investigating and reporting specified in BESE's Test Security Policy.
TEST ENVIRONMENT
Testing shall be conducted in class-sized groups. Permission for testing in environments that differ from the usual classroom setting must be obtained in writing from the Louisiana Department of Education, Division of Assessments and Accountability at least thirty (30) days prior to testing. If testing outside the usual classroom setting is approved by the Division of Assessments and Accountability, the School Board shall provide at least one proctor for every thirty (30) students.
CONDITIONS AND PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS
The State Superintendent of Education may disallow test results which may have been achieved in a manner which is violative of test security. In addition:
1. In cases where test results are not accepted because of breach of test security or action by the Louisiana Department of Education, any programmatic, evaluative, or graduation criteria dependent upon the data shall be deemed not to have been met.
2. Anyone known to be involved in the presentation of forged, counterfeit, or altered identification for the purposes of obtaining admission to a test administration site for any test administered by or through the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education or the Louisiana Department of Education shall have breached test security. Any individual(s) or student who knowingly causes or allows the presentation of forged, counterfeit, or altered identification for the purpose of obtaining admission to any test administration site shall forfeit all test scores and will be allowed to retake the test at the next test administration.
4. Test scores may be voided at the school level in cases of cheating or other violations of test security. When either cheating or the violation of test security is suspected, a committee to include at least the principal, school test coordinator, and test administrator will be convened to determine whether or not a score should be voided. A written report documenting and describing the incident(s) will be completed. In the event the decision is made to void scores because of cheating, the student and parents will be notified and offered an opportunity for a hearing to be conducted by the principal with the test administrator and school test coordinator also present. The principal shall make the final decision regarding voiding of test scores or breach of ethics. If the decision is made to void test scores, the school test coordinator must submit a letter on school letterhead with the principal's and school test coordinator's signatures to the District Test Coordinator. Attached to the letter should be the written record of the breach of security or cheating, dates and times of all meetings/hearings relating to the incidents with signatures of all present at these meetings/hearings, and documentation of phone calls to parents. Any witnesses to cheating or breach of security should complete a written statement describing the incident and sign and date the statement. These should be submitted with the written report.
5. Any teacher or other personnel who breaches test security or allows breaches in test security shall be disciplined in accordance with the provisions of policy and regulations adopted by the BESE and any and all laws that may be enacted by the Louisiana Legislature. Any violation of test security or breach of ethics on the part of an employee of the Vernon Parish School Board before, during, or after testing (including erasure analysis and/or other evidence that results in the voiding of test scores) will be investigated by the District Test Coordinator. If the violation occurred at the school level, the building principal will participate in the investigation. In the event sufficient evidence exists to support a violation in test security or breach of ethics, a written report will be submitted to the Superintendent of Schools in Vernon Parish. A hearing will be conducted by the Superintendent with the employee(s) under investigation, the District Test Coordinator, the building principal, and the Director of Personnel present. If the Superintendent determines that a violation of test security or breach of ethics has occurred, appropriate recommendations for disciplinary action will be made to the Vernon Parish School Board.
In the event that an employee has participated in activities to provide answers or otherwise alter test scores, the recommendation will be dismissal. All evidence of violations of test security and breach of ethics reported to the Superintendent of Schools by the Louisiana Department of Education will require a written report from those suspected of violations, the building principal, and the school test coordinator regardless of whether or not the claims are substantiated.
6. Anonymous complaints received by either the Superintendent of Schools or the District Test Coordinator regarding violations of test security or breach of ethics will be investigated by the District Test Coordinator. If evidence exists to support the complaint(s), appropriate action as described above will be initiated.
Revised: June, 2001 Revised: April, 2006
Revised: October, 2001 Revised: April, 2008
Revised: March, 2003 Revised: November, 2010
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. 17:81, 17:81.6, 49:953; Statewide Assessment Standards and Practices, Bulletin 118, Louisiana Department of Education; Board minutes, 2-9-99, 6-1-06, 6-5-08.
MINUTES OF BOARD MEETINGS
The Vernon Parish School Board shall require written minutes of all of its open meetings be kept. Such minutes shall include:
(1) the date, time, and place of the meeting;
(2) the members of the public body recorded as either present or absent;
(3) the substance of all matters decided, and, at the request of any member, a record, by individual member, of any votes taken; and
(4) any other information that any School Board member requests be included or reflected in the minutes.
The Superintendent is charged with the responsibility to keep all minutes of the Board in a book provided for that purpose and, within twenty (20) days after the meeting at which the minutes are approved, he/she will present them to be published one time in the official journal of the Board. The acts of the Board are filed and maintained in its administrative offices as public records and shall not be moved therefrom.
The minutes shall be public records and shall be available within a reasonable time after the meeting except where such disclosures would be inconsistent with statutory provisions.
Revised: August, 2010
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann 17:81, 42:4.1, et seq.
SCHOOL BUS SCHEDULING AND ROUTING
The Vernon Parish School Board shall provide school bus transportation for all students living more than one mile from the school that they are assigned to attend. Students living within one mile of the school may be allowed to ride a school bus when the School Board determines that conditions exist to warrant such transportation. Other students may be provided with school bus transportation in accordance with regulations of the Louisiana Department of Education.
A reasonable time shall be established for each route and the bus driver shall be expected to adhere to this schedule. By the same token, students shall be expected to be at their respective bus stop when the bus arrives. Once a bus route has been established the bus driver shall not alter or change assigned routes without order of the principal or Supervisor of Transportation. Any bus driver who feels a road is unsafe or dangerous shall report such dangerous condition to the Superintendent or designee, and the bus driver be allowed not to travel the road until the Superintendent or designee determines said road is safe or improved, or the situation has been rectified.
Buses must be routed so that no more than one bus will travel the same route, except in cases of definite apparent necessity. Each scheduled route will be planned in full consideration of the established limits for individual schools.
During inclement weather bus drivers may make more frequent stops. In discharging pupils who must cross the highway, the responsibility of safe crossing rests with the driver.
All students who live 3/10 of a mile or more off the regular bus route shall be included in the route if the road is adequately maintained and a bus turn-around is available. The road and the turn-around should be free of trees, limbs, stumps, cars, and other obstacles which would hinder the safe operation of the school bus. Unsafe conditions, as determined cooperatively by the bus driver, principal, Supervisor of Transportation, and Superintendent, shall result in the bus not traveling this portion of the route until the unsafe condition is rectified.
Revised: August, 2010
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. 17:158; Board minutes, 10-2-03.
CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
The Vernon Parish School Board believes the school district should have a sound child nutrition program and that the child nutrition program should be an integral part of the total educational program. The Board also believes that the highest possible sanitation standards should be maintained and that every effort should be made to make it possible for every child to participate in the child nutrition program without regard to race, color, disability, national origin, sex, or age.
GUIDELINES
The Board shall administer a Food and Nutrition Program in accordance with federal and state standards and requirements as outlined by the Louisiana Department of Education, Bulletin 1196, Louisiana Food and Nutrition Programs, Policies of Operation, including that only products that have met all state certification requirements shall be utilized in child nutrition facilities. The School Board, as the recognized child nutrition program authority for the school district, shall annually approve the national school lunch program, school breakfast program, U.S.D.A school commodity programs and any other related programs. The approved agreement shall meet all specifications mandated by the Louisiana Department of Education's Division of Nutrition Assistance.
Guidelines of the Louisiana Sanitation Code shall be strictly followed in the preparation, serving, and cleaning of all child nutrition programs and facilities.
Each school shall abide by state and federal guideline restrictions on the operation of concessions, canteens, snack bars, vending machines or other food and beverage sales.
No supplies or foods, including leftovers, shall be removed from the child nutrition department by any employee of the school system unless he/she has been authorized to transfer the items to another school location. Disciplinary action may result for unauthorized food removal.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Special events should not interfere with the preparation and service of school lunch, breakfasts, or snacks. School functions involving the use of the cafeteria shall be arranged through the principal and approved by the child nutrition supervisor. Whenever the cafeteria is used by the school, one or more of the child nutrition employees shall be in charge to ensure control over child nutrition foods and to ensure proper use and care of equipment and facilities. A Special Event form must be completed and sent to the supervisor of child nutrition at least two (2) weeks in advance of the event. Events that occur at scheduled times during the school year can be handled by sending in one notice listing all of the dates.
PAYMENT FOR MEALS
Meals may be paid for daily, weekly, monthly, or annually. Those students not eligible for free meals must pay for their meals at the prices established for full price and reduced price students. Those students not eligible for free meals who have not paid for a scheduled meal may have that meal withheld.
In elementary schools, prior to withholding a meal, the school shall:
1. Provide actual notification to the child's parent or legal guardian as to the date and time after which meals may be denied, the reason for such denial, any action that may be taken by the parent or legal guardian to prevent further denial of meals, and the consequences of the failure to take appropriate actions to prevent such denial, including that the school governing authority shall contact the office of community services within the Department of Social Services upon the third instance of such denial during a single school year.
2. Verify with appropriate school staff that the child does not have an Individual Education Plan that requires the child to receive meals provided by the school to ensure that neither the child's health nor learning ability will be negatively affected by denying the child meals during school hours.
If the school denies a scheduled meal to a child, the school shall provide a sandwich or a substantial and nutritious snack item to the child as a substitute for the meal denied.
Upon the third (3rd) instance during a single school year of the same elementary school child being denied a meal during school hours, the School Board shall contact the office of community services within the Department of Social Services to report the failure of the parent or guardian to pay for meals which has resulted in repeated denials of meals during school hours.
The School Board shall document each instance that a child is denied a meal in an elementary school and shall report annually to the State Superintendent of Education and to the respective legislative Committees on Education relative to the number of instances of denials of meals to children during school hours, the reason for the denial of meals to the child, the age and grade of each child so denied, and whether the child qualifies for free or reduced price lunch programs.
Charitable funds donated by school employees or other charitable funds may be used to pay for a child's meal in the event that he/she is subject to the denial of a meal during school hours.
No discrimination against any individual shall occur because of his/her inability to pay, nor shall the Board or any nutrition service provider publish or permit to be published the names of any individual unable to pay for the food.
Any public school employee who discloses the name of any individual unable to pay for such food, either orally or in written form, except as reasonably necessary in the conduct of his/her official duties, shall be subject to the penalties provided in state law. No employee shall disclose such information to any student for any reason.
FREE AND REDUCED PRICE MEAL APPLICATIONS
Eligibility for participation of students in the free and reduced meal program shall be determined by family meal application or direct certification of participation in migrant, runaway, or homeless education programs. A multi-child, family application to apply for school meal benefits shall be sent to the parents or guardians of each student within the first week of school. Parents shall be requested to complete an application listing all students enrolled in Vernon Parish public schools and return it to the determining official for review. The applicant should be made aware that deliberate misrepresentation on the application may subject him or her to prosecution under applicable state and federal criminal statutes. Such applications (approved and disapproved) and documentation of the action taken shall be maintained for three (3) years after the end of the fiscal year to which they pertain.
State guidelines allow for the limited disclosure of information about free and reduced price meal eligibility without consent of the parent. The information may be used only for the purpose authorized and may not be shared with any other parties for any reason. Aggregate information that does not identify individuals continues to be permitted without parental consent. Under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), the release of a child's eligibility status is permitted to persons directly connected with and who need to know a child's free and reduced price meal eligibility status in order to administer and enforce the Title I requirements under the NCLB. The statute, however, does not allow the disclosure of any other information obtained from the free lunch application form or obtained through the direct certification information received from the food stamp office.
Revised: October, 1997
Revised: August, 2005
Revised: August, 2010
Ref: No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB); La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:82, 17:191, 17:192, 17:192.1, 17:195, 17:196, 17:197.1, 17:198, 17:199, 39:2101, 40:4; Louisiana Food and Nutrition Programs, Policies of Operation, Bulletin 1196, Louisiana Department of Education; Louisiana Sanitary Code, La. Dept. of Health and Hospitals; Board minutes, 9-6-05.
EMPLOYMENT OF RETIRED PERSONNEL
The Vernon Parish School Board may employ retired employees under certain conditions; however, an employee whose retirement has been accepted by the School Board shall not be guaranteed any position/employment with the Board. It shall be the policy of the School Board to vest in its Superintendent or his/her designee the power to recommend candidates for rehire after the person has traditionally retired from the school system.
The Superintendent or his/her designee may bring recommendations to the Board for approval for the rehire of retiring certified personnel after the performance of the retiring applicant has been assessed, and it is determined to be in the best interest of the school system to rehire this individual.
CERTIFIED PERSONNEL
Certified personnel who are members of the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL) and are rehired by the School Board shall be classified as a retired teacher or retired member.
Retired Teachers
A retired teacher is:
1. Any teacher who returns to active service as a full-time or part-time classroom teacher in grades K-12 in a critical shortage area, or
2. A retiree who returns to active service as a full-time certified speech therapist, speech pathologist, or audiologist whose position requires a valid Louisiana ancillary certificate where the shortage exists, or
3. A retired employee who has returned to active employment service covered by La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §11:710 on or before June 30, 2010.
Critical shortage area shall mean any shortage of certified teachers existing in a subject area that has been certified by both the Superintendent and personnel director to Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) and the Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana.
Classroom teacher shall mean any employee whose position requires a valid Louisiana teaching certificate and who is assigned activities of instructing pupils in classroom courses for which daily attendance figures are kept, including school classroom, home or hospital settings or other learning situations that may be delivered inside or outside the classroom or in other teacher-student settings.
Prior to making such certification of critical shortage for any full-time teaching position, the School Board shall be required to advertise in the Board’s official journal, on two (2) separate occasions, notice that a shortage of certified teachers exists and the positions to be filled. If a certified applicant who is not a retiree applies for an advertised position, such person shall be hired before any certified retired teacher is employed, unless fewer than three (3) teachers have applied for the position each of whom are certified in the critical shortage area being filled.
The salary of any retired teacher who is reemployed by the School Board shall be based on the salary schedule which accounts for all prior years of teaching service and pertinent experience.
Whenever a retiree returns to active service, the School Board shall, within thirty (30) days thereafter, notify the TRSL in writing of such employment, the date of reemployment, and a determination by the Board as to whether the person is a retired teacher. The salary of any retired teacher shall be based on the salary schedule which accounts for all prior years of teaching service and pertinent experience.
Retired Members
A retired member is any person who is a member of the Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana and who after being reemployed, is not classified as a retired teacher. A retired member, once reemployed, shall have his/her retirement benefits suspended for the duration of reemployment and shall receive no additional service credit nor accrue any additional retirement benefits.
BUS DRIVERS
A bus driver who has retired from service may be employed by the School Board and return to service as a full-time bus driver. If the Board elects to reemploy a retired bus driver, the Superintendent shall certify to the BESE that a shortage of qualified bus drivers exists in the school district.
Whenever a retired bus driver is reemployed, the School Board shall notify the Louisiana School Employees Retirement System (LSERS) in writing within ten (10) days of such employment and the date employment began. In addition, the School Board shall submit to LSERS before September 1 of each school year of reemployment of a bus driver a declaration stating the Board’s intent to reemploy the bus driver. The declaration shall be signed by the Superintendent or his/her designee and the employee. If such declaration is not received by September 1, the reemployed bus driver shall be subject to retirement benefits and other conditions in accordance with La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §11:1006. Upon the bus driver’s termination, the School Board shall provide LSERS in writing information and notice of the termination.
The School Board shall be required to report to LSERS within forty-five (45) days after June 30th of each year the names of all retired bus drivers being paid by the Board, their social security numbers, and the amounts of their earnings during the previous year.
Actuarial Cost
If the School Board decides to reemploy a retired bus driver, the School Board shall pay to LSERS the actuarial cost for the bus driver that is in excess of the cost that would have been incurred if the School Board had reemployed the bus driver pursuant to the provisions of La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §11:1006.
OTHER NON-CERTIFIED EMPLOYEES
Any retired non-certified employee, other than a bus driver, may be reemployed by the School Board as a full-time, part-time, temporary, or substitute employee. The School Board shall be required to transmit monthly, by the fifteenth (15th) day after the end of the month, a report to the Louisiana School Employees Retirement System (LSERS) with the name, social security number, and the amount of earnings of the retiree during the previous month.
New policy: August, 2010
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§11:710, 11:1006, 11:1007, 17:81.
INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS
The Vernon Parish School Board is committed to the belief that for the learning process for students to be complete, additional student activities, such as athletics, must be an integral part of the educational program.
ATHLETIC PROGRAM
Interscholastic athletics may be made available for students in the schools of the school district. The Superintendent or his/her designee shall develop and maintain an athletic program in the school district that emphasizes participation of all students. The conduction of all athletic programs within the school district shall comply fully with regulations of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) and policies of the Board. The Board shall allow students to participate in as many sport activities and academic activities as he/she is capable of participating in without fear of reprisal.
Eligibility requirements for students to participate in athletics at schools in Vernon Parish shall be as determined by the Board, in accordance with regulations of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. Students, upon approval, may be permitted to transfer to another school in the parish, but will not be eligible to participate in athletics for one (1) year.
STUDENTS IN HOME STUDY PROGRAMS
Students participating in a home study program approved by the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) may be eligible to participate in interscholastic athletic activities at a high school that is a member of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA). To be eligible to participate, the home study student shall meet each of the following requirements:
1. The student shall be subject to the same residency or attendance zone requirements as other students participating in the athletic activity.
2. The student's parent or legal guardian shall make a written request for the student to participate in interscholastic athletic activities to the principal of the school providing the activity. Such request shall be made not later than the first eleven (11) days of the school year.
3. The principal of the school providing the athletic activity shall approve or disapprove such written request within thirty (30) days after receipt by the principal of all information and documentation requested by the principal from the student or the student's parent or legal guardian, or both. Such information and documentation shall be noted in item 5 below, as well as information and documentation that is required of other students relative to participation in the athletic activity. The decision by the principal to approve or disapprove the written request for the student to participate shall be final.
4. If participation is approved, then at the time of participation in the athletic activity, the student and the student's home study program shall be in full compliance with all guidelines, standards, and requirements established by state law for home study programs.
5. The student shall submit documentation from BESE that the student is in a home study program approved by BESE. The student shall submit a copy of his/her transcript showing units of study completed or in progress, the grades earned for such study, and his/her cumulative grade point average.
6. The student shall be required to meet academic standards required of other students to participate in the athletic activity.
7. The student shall be required to meet all other standards and requirements applicable to a student participating in the athletic activity, including but not limited to tryouts, practice time, codes of conduct and student discipline, physical exams, proof of age, permission forms, waivers, required paperwork, fees, and transportation arrangements but excluding any requirements that the student be enrolled in or attend the school, or both.
8. The student shall be required to meet conditions applicable to students at the school relative to having any required insurance coverage either by participating, if otherwise eligible, in insurance programs offered through the school or school system or by providing for such insurance coverage in another manner.
After a decision is made by the principal to approve a request for the student to participate, then the student shall participate in any tryouts for such activity at the same time and in the same manner as other students who want to participate in the same activity.
Any home study student who provides, or on whose behalf others provide, any false representation, documentation, or verification of the student's qualifications for the purpose of meeting eligibility requirements to participate in interscholastic athletics shall be ruled ineligible to participate in accordance with policies of the LHSAA and shall be subject to the same penalties as other students. Likewise, a school determined to be knowledgeable of any false representation, documentation, or verification of a home study student's qualifications for the purpose of meeting eligibility requirements to participate in interscholastic athletics shall be subject to penalties as established by the LHSAA for use of an ineligible student athlete.
A student who has been enrolled in a public or nonpublic school during the school year in which the student begins home study or during the previous school year and who was determined ineligible to participate in one or more interscholastic extracurricular activities at such school for reasons related to student conduct or academic performance, or both, shall be ineligible to participate in interscholastic athletic activities for one (1) calendar year from the date the student was determined ineligible.
A student who has been enrolled in a public or nonpublic school during the school year in which the student begins home study shall not be eligible to participate in interscholastic athletic activities during the remainder of that school year nor during the following school year.
PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS
No student shall be permitted to practice or participate in any interscholastic athletic program in any public school of the Vernon Parish School Board until such student shall have furnished to the principal of the school documentation that he/she has met the following requirements:
1. Evidence of having had a physical examination by a licensed physician who shall have completed documentation as required by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA).
2. Properly complete a School Entrance and General Health Exam Form/LHSAA Medical History and pass a medical examination by a licensed physician prior to the first time he/she participates in a sport in a LHSAA school. Physicians may continue to use the original LHSAA Sports Physical Form in performing sports physicals. In addition, parents shall be required to complete the Authorization for Release of Confidential Information.
3. Once a student passes the initial medical examination and completes an LHSAA Medical History Form prior to the sports season in which he/she participates, he/she shall annually pass any medical screening or medical examination required by a licensed physician and shall update his/her LHSAA Medical History Form as required.
4. A copy of all completed and signed medical examination and participation/release of information forms (and any others required by the School Board) must be on file at the school for every student before he/she practices or participates in interscholastic athletics during that school year.
5. An agreement signed by the student's parent(s) or legal guardian(s) to hold the School Board and its members, employees, agents, assigns and insurers harmless from and against any liability for any accidents involving the student while participating in such athletic activities and any injuries suffered by the student during, or as a result of, such participation. The agreement shall also authorize team physicians to treat the student in the event of an injury requiring emergency treatment.
6. Students shall sign a form consenting to random drug screening and must obtain the written consent of their parent(s) or guardian(s) for said tests in order to be eligible to participate in any athletic activity. (See policy IDFAA, Interscholastic Athletics Drug Testing)
RULES VIOLATION
Adherence to the rules of athletic representation and participation shall be strictly enforced by the Board. Any violations of athletic rules shall be immediately reported to the Superintendent by the principal. In the event that a member school, member school principal, or member school coach is penalized or cited by the LHSAA due to a violation, the athletic director, principal, and coach involved shall provide a full report to the Superintendent. If found warranted, the Superintendent in turn shall make a report to the School Board with pertinent recommendations for disciplinary action.
SCHOLASTIC REQUIREMENTS
The School Board endorses the scholastic eligibility requirements as a condition for participation in high school extracurricular activities as stipulated by the LHSAA. In order to remain eligible for athletic participation, the participating student shall be required to successfully pass at least five (5) subjects and maintain at least a 1.5 grade point average in all subjects taken. At the end of the year and prior to the next school year students must have earned at least five (5) Carnegie units with the overall 1.5 grade point average in all units taken. The LHSAA Handbook should be consulted for special education students as different rules may apply.
SAFETY
The Superintendent or his/her designee shall have the responsibility in the school district to identify risks to students participating in athletic activities. Participants in the various sports shall be instructed in proper techniques to practice for maximum safety in the contact phase of a game.
The Vernon Parish School Board shall require injury prevention techniques be promoted by all coaches to all athletes. All players and parents of players shall be provided information concerning the physical risks to students participating in varsity athletic programs. Before any student shall be allowed to participate in athletics, the athlete and his/her parents shall sign a statement certifying that they have been provided the safety information required.
INSURANCE COVERAGE
An election by the student's parent(s) or legal guardian(s) either (a) to decline student insurance and be fully responsible for all bills associated with any injuries suffered by the student as a result of participating in any Vernon Parish School Board public school interscholastic athletic programs, or (b) to purchase student insurance and be responsible for any bills not covered by such insurance.
No students shall be allowed to practice or participate in interscholastic athletics until this requirement has been met.
CONFRONTATION WITH COACHES
No person (parent or otherwise) shall confront a coach after an athletic contest concerning a player or a coaching decision. The person must make an appointment with the coach through the principal the next school day or the next available day to discuss any concerns.
If this rule is violated, the person and/or player in question will be suspended from the next game or games depending on the severity of the confrontation.
Coaches are to report all violations to the principal.
A copy of this ruling shall be taken home by student athletes for parents to sign and return to the coach and principal.
Revised: November, 1998
Revised: August, 2010
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:169, 17:176, 17:236.3; Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, Bulletin 741, Louisiana Department of Education; Official Handbook, Louisiana High School Athletic Association; Board minutes, 11-10-98.
ATTENDANCE
In accordance with state law, it is the responsibility of every parent, tutor, or legal guardian of a child between the ages of seven (7) and eighteen (18) to enforce the attendance of his or her child at the school to which the student is assigned. Once a pupil arrives at school, he/she is expected to remain and attend each class throughout the day.
A student is considered to be in attendance when he or she (1) is physically present at a school site or is participating in an authorized school activity and (2) is under the supervision of authorized personnel. This definition for attendance would extend to students who are homebound, assigned to and participating in drug rehabilitation programs that contain a state-approved education component, or participating in school-authorized field trips or other school-approved activities.
• Half-day attendance - A student is considered to be in attendance for one-half day when he or she (1) is physically present at a school site or is participating in an authorized school activity and (2) is under the supervision of authorized personnel for more than 25% but not more than half (26%-50%) of the student's instructional day.
• Whole-day attendance - A student is considered to be in attendance for a whole day when he or she (1) is physically present at a school site or is participating in an authorized school activity and (2) is under the supervision of authorized personnel for more than 50% (51%-100%) of the student's instructional day.
Compulsory attendance laws and Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) regulations require high school students to be in attendance a minimum of 30,060 minutes (equivalent to 83.5 six hour school days), per semester or 60,120 minutes (equivalent to 167 six hour school days) a school year for schools not operating on a semester basis in order to be eligible to receive credit for courses taken. To receive Carnegie credit for a course, students must be present ninety-four percent (94%) of the required time as listed in §907 of Bulletin 741, Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators. Elementary students shall be in attendance a minimum of 167 days (60,120 minutes) a school year in order to be eligible to receive credit for courses taken.
JURISDICTION
All students shall be under the jurisdiction of the school during normal school hours, from the time the student arrives at school each day until he or she leaves the school campus in the afternoon. In case a student rides a bus, he or she shall be under the jurisdiction of the school from the time he or she boards the bus until the student exits the bus in the afternoon. Students shall be under the jurisdiction of the school while attending any school sponsored activity either at school or away from school. This shall apply to all students, including athletic teams, pep clubs, band and other student organizations. In disciplinary matters, the Board’s authority may extend beyond the limits set forth above, in accordance with state law.
Revised: December, 1991
Revised: January, 1996
Revised: April, 2008
Revised: September, 2008
Revised: August, 2010
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:221, 17:226, 17:227, 17:233; Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, Bulletin 741, Louisiana Department of Education; Board minutes, 6-5-08, 10-7-08.
COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AGES
Except as provided by law, every child in the state is required by state law to attend public or private school from the child's seventh (7th) birthday until his/her eighteenth (18th) birthday, unless the child graduates prior to his/her eighteenth (18th) birthday. Any child below the age of seven (7) who legally enrolls in school shall also be required to attend school. If a child in these age brackets was a resident of this parish when school opened and enters school late without having attended another public or private school or approved home study program during the current school session within or without the parish, a statement should be secured from the parents or guardian giving the reasons why the child has not been in school. If these reasons are not satisfactory, the matter should be referred to the Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance, who may find it necessary to refer it to the proper court.
EXCEPTIONS
Certain exceptions to the compulsory attendance laws are allowed as provided by state law and included in policy JBD, Absences and Excuses. In addition, statutes provide for the following:
1. The parent, tutor, or other person responsible for the school attendance of a child between the ages of sixteen (16) and eighteen (18) who is enrolled in school may request that the student be allowed to attend an effective adult education program or a career and technical education program.
2. Compulsory attendance does not apply to any child who is under the age of seventeen (17) and is attending or seeking admission to a National Guard Youth Challenge Program in Louisiana.
FAILURE TO COMPLY
Failure to abide by the compulsory school attendance laws of the state may result in a referral to Families in Need of Services (FINS) which is a state mandated program or to the District Court with jurisdiction.
Revised: August, 2001 Revised: December, 2008
Revised: June, 2002 Revised: August, 2010
Revised: August, 2005
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:221, 17:226, 17:226.1, 17:233; La. Children’s Code, Art. 730; Bulletin 741, Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, Louisiana Department of Education; Board minutes, 9-6-05, 2-5-09.
SCHOOL ADMISSION
The Vernon Parish School Board shall admit students to the schools of the school district once the student has been registered for school by the parent or legal guardian, under such rules and regulations as the Board may prescribe.
No student of suitable age shall be denied admission or readmission to school who resides within the geographical boundaries of the school system unless such student is legally excluded from attending school.
No child shall be admitted to school for the first time until his/her parents do the following:
1. Present to school officials an official birth certificate. A short-form birth certification card shall be acceptable. Only records from the local or state registrar of vital statistics shall be accepted for children born in Louisiana, except as otherwise provided herein. Children born in Louisiana will be given a fifteen (15) day grace period to secure a copy of their birth record. Children born out of this state will be given thirty (30) days grace in which to produce a copy of their birth record. In cases where birth certificates and/or birth verification forms cannot be obtained, the school principal may accept whatever positive proof of age, race and parentage is available. It shall be left to the discretion of the Superintendent or designee as to whether or not a child shall continue in school upon failure to comply herewith.
2. Present to school officials evidence of being or having been immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, poliomyelitis and measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases according to a schedule approved by the Office of Public Health, Department of Health and Hospitals.
3. Present to school officials an official Social Security card. If no Social Security card is available, the student shall be assigned a state identification number.
4. Present to school officials all official school records of school previously attended or information needed to access such records when transferring from another school to one inside the School District, including necessary authorization to obtain and/or access any and all records of the enrolling student.
5. Present to school officials as a prerequisite to enrolling in the first grade, evidence of having attended at least a full-day public or private kindergarten for a full school year; or satisfactorily passed academic readiness screening administered by the school system prior to the time of enrollment in first grade.
6. Present to school officials evidence of being bona fide residents of the school district, with limited exception. However, children temporarily residing within the jurisdiction of the Board who have no permanent address, who have been abandoned by their parents, or who are in foster care shall be admitted to school, except as may be allowed by statute.
7. Present to school officials satisfactory evidence that at least one of the child's parents or guardians has completed a parent orientation course conducted by the School District. However, no child shall be denied entry into school because of parent or guardian has not attended an orientation session.
ADMISSION OF EXPELLED STUDENTS
No student who has been expelled in accordance with state law from any school in the state shall be admitted to any school in the school system except upon the review and approval of the School Board.
No student who has been expelled from any school outside the state of Louisiana or any nonpublic school within Louisiana for committing any of the offenses enumerated in state law shall be admitted to any school in the school system except upon the review and approval of the governing body of the admitting school.
ADMISSION OF STUDENTS WHO COMMIT A FELONY
The conviction of any student of a felony or the incarceration of any student in a juvenile institution for an act, whether committed in Louisiana or any other state or country, which had it been committed by an adult would have constituted a felony in Louisiana, may be sufficient cause for the Superintendent to refuse admission of the student to any school in the school district, except upon review and approval of a majority of the elected members of the School Board when a request for admission has been made to the Board.
ADMISSION OF HOMELESS STUDENTS
Except as provided above with regard to students who have been expelled, no provision in this or any other Vernon Parish School Board policy shall be interpreted to impede the immediate or continued enrollment of homeless youth, as addressed in policy JBCBB, Homeless Students.
Revised: November, 1993
Revised: December, 1995
Revised: December, 1997
Revised: August, 2000
Revised: March, 2003
Revised: April, 2008
Revised: August, 2010
Ref: 42 USC 11431; La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:151.3, 17:167, 17:221, 17:221.2, 17:222, 17:235.1, 17:238, 17:416; Singleton v. Jackson Municipal Separate School District, 419 F. 2d 1211 (5th Cir., 1970); Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, Bulletin 741, Louisiana Department of Education; Board minutes, 6-5-08.
STUDENT TRANSFER AND WITHDRAWAL
TRANSFER
Students are assigned to attend the school in the attendance area in which their residence is located. They may attend a school other than the one designated for their attendance zone; however, their parents must provide the necessary transportation.
Polk Elementary is declared a neutral zone, therefore, only students living on Fort Polk Reservation are eligible to attend Polk Elementary. Students living on the reservation, may, however, attend the school of their choice.
Students who have not had a change of residence during the school year may not transfer to more than one (1) school during the school year. Exceptions may be granted through application by the parent/guardian to a committee composed of the Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance and the two (2) principals of the schools affected by said transfer.
WITHDRAWAL
Students shall be required to attend school in accordance with statutory provisions. Students may be permitted to withdraw from school however, if approved by the Superintendent and Board. Such withdrawal must be in accordance with such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Board.
Revised: August, 2001
Revised: December, 2008
Revised: August, 2010
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. 17:81, 17:104.1, 17:105, 17:106, 17:108, 17:109, 17:111, 17:221, 17:226, 17:227; Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, Bulletin 741, Louisiana Department of Education; Board minutes, 1-10-80, 12-12-89, 2-5-09.
STUDENT ABSENCES AND EXCUSES
The Vernon Parish School Board recognizes that the fundamental right to attend the public schools places upon students the accompanying responsibility to be faithful in attendance. Regular attendance can be assumed to be essential for a student's successful progress in the instructional program.
The principal of a school, or his/her designee, shall notify the parent or legal guardian in writing on or before a student's third unexcused absence or unexcused occurrence of being tardy, and shall hold a conference with such student's parent or legal guardian. This notification shall include information relative to the parent or legal guardian’s legal responsibility to enforce the student’s attendance at school and the civil penalties that may be incurred if the student is determined to be habitually absent or habitually tardy. The student's parent or legal guardian shall sign a receipt for such notification.
Each school shall attempt to provide verbal notification to a child's parent, tutor, or legal guardian, and, if such verbal notification cannot be provided, then the school shall provide written notification to a child's parent, tutor, or legal guardian when that child has been absent from school for five (5) school days in schools operating on a semester basis, and for ten (10) days in schools not operating on a semester basis. The accumulation of days absent need not be consecutive.
No public elementary or secondary school pupil shall be permitted for any reason to absent himself/herself from school attendance during the school day upon his/her own authority. The principal or designee shall make all reasonable efforts to verbally notify the parent or other person responsible for the pupil's school attendance of any such prohibited absence by a pupil.
For attendance reporting purposes, the days absent for elementary and secondary school students shall include excused absences, unexcused absences, and suspensions. Students shall not be excused for any absences other than those specified under Excused Absences below, and shall be given failing grades in those subjects for those days missed, and shall not be given an opportunity to make up work, except as is provided under Suspensions.
EXCUSED ABSENCES
Excused absences are absences of two (2) or fewer consecutive school days incurred due to personal illness or serious illness in the family. In addition, excused absences are those stipulated in state law that are considered exemptions from compulsory attendance, as noted below. Students may be excused from attendance regulations for certain extenuating circumstances that shall be verified by the Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance.
Extenuating Circumstances:
1. Extended personal physical or emotional illness in which a student is absent for three (3) or more consecutive school days as verified by a physician or nurse practitioner licensed in the state;
2. Extended hospital stay in which a student is absent for three (3) or more consecutive school days as verified by a physician or dentist;
3. Extended recuperation from an accident in which a student is absent for three (3) or more consecutive school days as verified by a physician, dentist, or nurse practitioner licensed in the state;
4. Extended contagious disease within a family in which a student is absent for three (3) or more consecutive school days as verified by a physician or dentist licensed in the state; or
5. Observance of special and recognized holidays of the student's own faith.
6. Visitation with a parent who is a member of the United States Armed Forces or the National Guard of a state and such parent has been called to duty for or is on leave from overseas deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting. Excused absences in this situation shall not exceed five (5) school days per school year.
7. Any minor employed to perform or render artistic or creative services under a contract pursuant to statutory provisions.
The only other exceptions to the attendance regulations shall be other absences as verified by the principal or his/her designee as stated below:
1. Prior school system-approved travel for education
2. Death in the family (not to exceed one week)
3. Natural catastrophe and/or disaster
For any other extenuating circumstances, the student’s parents or legal guardian must make a formal appeal in accordance with the due process procedures established by the school system.
Students who are eligible to receive grades shall not receive those grades if they are unable to complete makeup work or pass the course.
UNEXCUSED ABSENCES
An unexcused absence shall be defined as any absence not meeting the requirements set forth in the excused absence and extenuating circumstances definitions, including but not limited to, out of school suspensions and absences due to any job (including agriculture and domestic services, even in their own homes or for their own parents or tutors) unless it is part of an approved instructional program.
An unexcused absence is also an absence for which no written excuse verifying the absence was submitted to the school, or the written excuse was not submitted within the allotted time frame for submission.
SUSPENSIONS
Students absent from school as a result of any suspension shall be assigned school work missed while he/she is suspended and shall receive either partial or full credit for such work if it is completed satisfactorily and timely in accordance with Board policy.
WRITTEN EXCUSES
For a student to be eligible to receive credit and make up work following an absence, the student shall be required in each instance to submit parental confirmation of the reasons for the absence. If a student is tardy or absent, the parent or guardian must submit a written excuse, signed and dated, to school authorities upon the student's return to classes, stating the reason for the student's absence from school. A doctor's, dentist’s, or nurse practitioner’s written statement of student's incapacity to attend school shall be required for those absences for three (3) or more consecutive days due to illness, contagious illness in a family, hospitalization, or accidents. All excuses for a student's absence, including medical verification of extended personal illness, must be presented within five (5) school days of the student's return to school, or the student's absence shall be considered unexcused and the student not allowed to make up work missed.
REPORTING ABSENCES
The attendance of all school pupils shall be checked each school day and at the beginning of each class period and shall be verified by the teacher keeping such record, which shall be open to inspection by the Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance or duly authorized representative at all reasonable times. All schools shall immediately report to the Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance any unexplained, unexcused, or illegal absence, or habitual tardiness.
The Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance shall, after written notice to the parent or legal guardian of a child, or a personal visit of notification, report any such child who is habitually absent or who is habitually tardy to the family or juvenile court of the parish as a truant child, there to be dealt with in such manner as the court may determine.
APPEAL OF ABSENCES
When a student exceeds the maximum number of absences allowed, including excused and unexcused absences, the parents or student may make a formal appeal to the principal if they feel any of the absences are because of extenuating circumstances. If they feel that the decision is unfavorable, they shall appeal to the Superintendent or his/her designee. After a review by the Superintendent or his/her designee, a decision shall be made and communicated to the parents or legal guardian by letter.
High school students in danger of failing due to excessive absences may be allowed to make up missed time in class sessions held outside the regular class time. The make-up sessions must be completed before the end of the current semester and all other applicable policies must also be met.
TARDINESS
A student shall be considered tardy to class if the student is not in the classroom when the bell to begin class ceases. A student shall be considered tardy to school if the student is not in his/her homeroom/first period class when the bell to begin homeroom/class ceases. Tardy shall also mean leaving or checking out of school unexcused prior to the regularly scheduled dismissal. Habitual tardiness on the part of students shall not be tolerated.
Students who exhibit habitual tardiness shall be subject to disciplinary action, appropriate under the circumstances. Parents of students who continue to be tardy shall be notified for a conference with the principal, and the student may be subject to suspension from school and the parent/legal guardian subject to court fines or community service.
Revised: December, 1995
Revised: April, 2008
Revised: September, 2008
Revised: August, 2010
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:221, 17:226, 17:230, 17:232, 17:233; Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, Bulletin 741, Louisiana Department of Education; Board minutes, 6-5-08, 10-7-08.
BULLYING, CYBERBULLYING, INTIMIDATION, HARASSMENT, AND HAZING
The Vernon Parish School Board is committed to maintaining a safe, orderly, civil and positive learning environment so that no student feels threatened while in school or participating in school-related activities. Students and their parents/guardians shall be notified that the school, school bus, and all other school environments are to be safe and secure for all. Therefore, all statements or actions of a bullying, cyberbullying, intimidating, threatening, harassing, hazing, or any other violent nature made on campus, at school-sponsored activities, on school buses, at school bus stops, and en-route from home to the bus stop and from the bus stop home shall not be tolerated. Even if made in a joking manner, these statements or actions threatening other students, school personnel, or school property shall be unacceptable.
All students, teachers, and other school employees shall take responsible measures within the scope of their individual authority to prevent violations of this policy.
BULLYING, CYBERBULLYING, INTIMIDATION, HARASSMENT
Bullying, intimidation, and harassment, shall mean any intentional gesture or written, verbal, or physical act that a reasonable person under the circumstances should know will have the effect of harming a student or damaging his/her property or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to his/her life or person or damage to his/her property and is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student.
Cyberbullying shall mean harassment, intimidation, or bullying of a student on school property by another student using a computer, mobile phone, or other interactive or digital technology or harassment, intimidation, or bullying of a student while off school property by another student using any such means when the action or actions are intended to have an effect on the student when the student is on school property.
HAZING
Hazing shall mean any knowing behavior, whether by commission or omission, of any student to encourage, direct, order, or participate in any activity which subjects another student to potential physical, mental, or psychological harm for the purpose of initiation or admission into, affiliation with, continued membership in, or acceptance by existing members of any organization or extracurricular activity at a public elementary or secondary school, whether such behavior is planned or occurs on or off school property, including any school bus and school bus stop. Hazing does not mean any adult-directed and school-sanctioned athletic program practice or event or military training program.
Any solicitation to engage in hazing, and the aiding and abetting another person who engages in hazing shall be prohibited. The consent, stated or implied, of the hazing victim shall not be a defense in determining disciplinary action.
REPORTING PROCEDURES
Any student who believes he or she has been the victim of bullying, cyberbullying, intimidation, threatening behavior, harassment or hazing by a student, teacher, administrator or other school personnel, or by any other person who is participating in, observing or otherwise engaged in activities including sporting events and other extracurricular activities, under the auspices of the school district or a school within the school system, is encouraged to immediately report the alleged acts to any appropriate school district official.
Any teacher, administrator, or other school personnel who has or receives notice that a student has or may have been the victim of bullying, cyberbullying, intimidation, threatening behavior, harassment, or hazing at school or any school activity shall be required to immediately report the alleged acts to an appropriate school district official, utilizing the Louisiana Department of Education’s behavior incidence checklist to document the details of each reported incident of harassment, intimidation, and bullying, including cyberbullying.
Any student, School Board employee, or school volunteer who in good faith reports an incident of harassment, intimidation, bullying or cyberbullying to the school administrator in accordance with appropriate procedures shall be immune from a right of action for damages arising from any failure to remedy the reported incident.
At the School Building Level
The principal shall be the person responsible at the school level for receiving written reports of bullying, cyberbullying, intimidation, threatening behavior, harassment, or hazing of a student. Any other school administrator, teacher, or other school personnel who receives a report of bullying, cyberbullying, intimidation, threatening behavior, harassment or hazing of a student shall immediately inform the principal, who shall notify the Superintendent or his/her designee.
Other Sites
Building administrators designated by the Superintendent at each administrative, support, or maintenance site shall be responsible for receiving written reports of bullying, cyberbullying, intimidation, threatening behavior, harassment, or hazing of a student. Upon receipt of a report, the building administrator shall immediately notify the Superintendent or his/her designee.
INVESTIGATION OF COMPLAINTS AND REPORTS
The Superintendent or his/her designee shall immediately investigate or authorize the investigation of all reports and complaints involving alleged bullying, cyberbullying, intimidation, threatening behavior, harassment or hazing of students. Investigations may consist of personal interviews with the complainants or the individual who is alleged to have been bullied, cyberbullied, intimidated, threatened, harassed or hazed, the individual or individuals against whom the complaint is made, witnesses, and any other persons who may have knowledge of the alleged incident or incidents or circumstances leading to or giving rise to the complaint. Other methods of investigation also may be used and pertinent documents may be examined by the investigator.
During the pendency of an investigation, the school district may take immediate steps, at its discretion, to protect the complainant, students, teachers, administrators or other school personnel pending completion of the investigation.
Investigations shall be completed as soon as practicable. A written report shall be prepared upon the completion of the investigation. If the complaint involves the Superintendent, the report shall be made and filed directly with the School Board. The written report shall include determination of whether the allegations have been substantiated as factual and whether they appear to be violations of this policy.
DISCIPLINARY ACTION
The school district shall take appropriate action in response to a report following an investigation of any alleged bullying, cyberbullying, intimidation, threatening behavior, harassment, or hazing of a student. When the report determines that the alleged act or conduct appears to be in violation of this policy, disciplinary action shall be taken as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct. The principal/designee shall contact the parent, tutor, or legal guardian of the pupil being disciplined for alleged misconduct to notify them of the disciplinary action.
Whenever the act or conduct determined to be a violation of this policy may also constitute a violation of state or federal criminal statute, the appropriate law enforcement officer shall be promptly notified.
Appeal
The parent of a student disciplined for violation of this policy may appeal to the Superintendent or his/her designee no later than five (5) days after being notified of the disciplinary action. The Superintendent or his/her designee shall review all documentation regarding the incident, and if determined to be necessary by the Superintendent or designee, conduct a hearing on the matter. The results of the review or hearing shall be sent to the parents or legal guardian within three (3) school days. The decision of the Superintendent shall be final, except for a student expulsion, which may be appealed to the School Board in accordance with statutory provisions.
NOTIFICATION
The School Board shall inform each student in writing within ten (10) days after enrolling in school of the prohibition against harassment, intimidation, and bullying, including cyberbullying, of a student by another student; the nature and consequences of such actions; and the proper process and procedure for reporting any incidents involving such prohibited actions.
Revised: August, 2010
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. 17:183, 17:416, 17:416.13; Board minutes, 8-10-04.
STUDENT DRESS CODE
The policy of the Vernon Parish School Board shall be that no mode of attire shall be considered proper for school wear that distracts from or disrupts classroom and school decorum, creates a safety concern or possibly creates a health concern. Students are required to wear uniforms. Clothing should be clean and students are expected to dress in a neat and appropriate manner at all times. Extremes in style, fit and grooming will not be permitted. In questions regarding student dress and grooming, the principal of each school shall make the final decision as to what is considered proper or improper dress according to guidelines as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.
Any special occasions for different attire approved by the principal shall be allowed.
Students entering school shall be allowed two (2) weeks to purchase uniforms and comply with the policy. After this "grace" period, students attending school without the proper uniform shall not be allowed to go to class. Parents shall be called to pick them up or bring the proper uniform. Continued flagrant violation of the uniform policy shall result in students being suspended from school.
NOTIFICATION
The School Board shall notify the parent or guardian of each student of the dress code specifications and their effective date.
If the Board modifies the existing uniform policy, it shall notify, in writing, the parent or guardian of each student of the policy adoption or uniform policy modification at least sixty (60) days prior to the effective date of the new or revised policy. Each school shall display any uniform selected for a reasonable period prior to the proposed effective date for wearing of the uniform.
However, nothing shall prohibit the Board from requiring a new or revised dress code or uniform policy without the required notice in the event of an emergency. For the purposes of this policy, emergency shall mean an actual or imminent threat to health or safety which may result in loss of life, injury, or property damage.
BODY ARMOR
It shall be unlawful and against School Board policy for any student or non-student to wear or possess on his/her person, at any time, body armor on any School Board property, school campus, at a school-sponsored function, on a school bus or other school transportation, or in a firearm-free zone, with limited exception as enumerated in La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §14:95.9. School-sponsored functions shall include, but not be limited to, athletic competitions, dances, parties, or any extracurricular activities. A firearm-free zone means any area within one thousand feet of any school campus and within a school bus.
Body armor shall mean bullet-resistant metal or other material intended to provide protection from weapons or bodily injury.
DISCIPLINE FOR DRESS CODE VIOLATION:
1st offense -- Warning and change.
2nd offense -- 1 day ISS/detention/time out room.
3rd offense -- 1 day suspension for habitual rule violations.
Revised: July, 2000
Revised: June, 2001
Revised: August, 2002
Revised: September, 2002
Revised: December, 2008
Revised: August, 2010
Ref: Scott v. Board of Education, 304 N.Y.S. 2d 601 (1969); Karr v. Schmidt, 460 F.2d 609 (5th Cir. 1972); La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§14:95.9, 17:81, 17:416.7; Board minutes 7-1-99, 6-6-00, 2-6-01, 5-7-02, 2-5-09.
ILLNESS AND ACCIDENTS
It is the intent of the Vernon Parish School Board to maintain a safe and healthy educational environment in school buildings, on school campuses, and at school-sponsored functions and activities. School administrators, teachers, volunteers, and other school personnel, however, cannot guarantee that the school environment will be free of illness or accidents.
The Vernon Parish School Board shall attempt to provide appropriate and reasonable care of students when they become ill or injured. Any treatment rendered should be in accordance with the severity of the illness or injury. When a child becomes seriously sick at school or is seriously injured in an accident, the principal or his/her designee shall be responsible for immediately contacting the parents. If the principal or designee is unable to contact the parents, he/she shall attempt to contact the family’s primary care provider as noted on the Health Information form submitted by the parents at the beginning of the school year. The principal or designee shall also attempt to contact the person listed as the emergency contact on the Health Information form.
If treatment is deemed urgent and the primary care provider is not immediately available for consultation, the principal shall call 911 or its equivalent. School personnel shall remain with the child until emergency medical personnel arrive to treat the ill or injured student. If emergency medical personnel deem it necessary to transport the student to a medical facility, school personnel may accompany the student.
Neither the School Board nor the school shall assume any liability for the treatment of a student.
Principals shall notify the Superintendent of all serious accidents to pupils whether they occur on the school grounds, on the school bus, on field trips or during any other student activity.
To facilitate the rendering of health services, the School Board shall require the parent/legal guardian to submit properly completed standardized school health forms as enumerated in Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, Bulletin 741.
No medication shall be administered to any student unless written permission from parents has been granted, and only in accordance with Board policy JGCD, Administration of Medication.
FIRST AID
Generally, treatment of injuries should be limited to the rendering of first aid. First aid is that immediate help given by the best qualified person at hand in case of accidents or sudden illness. Each school employee who participates in any required in-service shall be required to receive first aid orientation and training. A master first aid kit shall be kept and properly maintained in each school. For more serious injuries, trained medical personnel should be summoned to assist with such injuries as needed.
New policy: June, 2008
Revised: August, 2010
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 17:440.1; Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, Bulletin 741, Louisiana Department of Education; Board minutes, 7-10-08.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR VEHICLE OPERATION
BOARD-OWNED OR LEASED VEHICLES
The Vernon Parish School Board shall require that only authorized employees with valid drivers’ licenses be allowed to operate and drive vehicles owned or leased by the Board. Authorized employees shall be those employees whom the school system has authorized to drive Board-owned or leased vehicles after having their driving records and insurance qualifications examined for acceptability by School Board staff.
The School Board requires the highest possible standards of safety of its employees in the operation of vehicles owned or leased by the School Board. Accordingly, no person may be hired or employed for any position which includes duties involving the operation of a School Board owned or leased vehicle who has a motor vehicle record with violations for driving while intoxicated or under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident, or other serious motor vehicle violations, nor whose driver’s license is suspended.
ARRESTS OR CITATIONS FOR MOTOR VEHICLE VIOLATIONS
A school bus operator shall report his/her arrest for violation of any law or local ordinance that prohibits operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or any abused substance or controlled dangerous substance set forth in the drug schedules enumerated in La. Rev. Stat. Ann. '40:964. School bus operator shall mean any employee of the School Board whose duty is to transport students in any school bus or activity bus to and from school or to and from any school-related activity.
The report shall be made by the operator to the Superintendent or his/her designee. Such report shall be made within twenty-four (24) hours of the arrest or prior to the operator next reporting for his/her work assignment as a school bus operator, whichever time period is shorter. Such report shall be made by the school bus operator regardless of who owns or leases the vehicle being driven at the time of the offense for which the operator was arrested and regardless of whether the operator was performing an official duty or responsibility at the time of the offense.
A school bus operator who fails to report his/her arrest for violations of operating a vehicle as noted above shall be terminated by the School Board if the operator is serving a probationary term of employment, or shall be subject to removal as provided for by state law if the operator is tenured. If the bus operator is tenured, written and signed charges alleging such failure to report violations shall be brought against the bus operator.
Any employee of the school system employed for any position which includes duties involving the operation of a School Board owned or leased vehicle, or operating a private vehicle while conducting Board-related business, shall report by telephone and in writing to the Supervisor of Transportation, any citation, summons, or arrest for driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, driving while intoxicated, leaving the scene of an accident, driving while license is suspended, or other serious motor vehicle violations. Such report shall be required whether the usage is of a district owned or leased vehicle or a personal/private vehicle. Failure to report any such violations within twenty-four (24) hours after any arrest or citation shall be a violation of this policy and subject the employee to discipline including the possible termination of employment. All reports to the Supervisor of Transportation shall be forwarded to the personnel office for appropriate disciplinary action and reporting to the School Board's insurer. If denied coverage by the insurer, an employee may be terminated.
In the event a citation, summons or arrest involves the operation of a School Board owned or leased vehicle, the driving privileges of an employee may be immediately removed. For an employee whose primary duty is the driving of a School Board owned or leased vehicle, the employee may be suspended by the School Board with or without pay, or terminated if the violation results in conviction.
ACCIDENTS
Any employee involved in an accident shall report such accident to proper School District personnel utilizing the procedures outlined in the Transportation Handbook. Reporting requirements are applicable to all employees, not just bus drivers.
MOTOR VEHICLE DRIVING RECORD
The Supervisor of Transportation shall, at a minimum of twice a year, submit a list of employees who drive School Board owned or leased vehicles to the Louisiana Department of Motor Vehicles for verification of driving records and for updating information provided to the insurer.
New policy: September, 2010
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. 14:32.1, 14:32.8, 14:39.2, 14:98, 14:98.1, 14:98.2, 14:100, 17:81; Student Transportation Handbook, Bulletin 1191, Louisiana Department of Education.
STUDENT TRANSPORTATION SAFETY PROGRAM
The Vernon Parish School Board recognizes the responsibility of school bus operators and the need for bus operators to practice extreme caution in transporting children to and from school. Therefore, the School Board shall require the implementation, maintenance, and observance of a transportation safety program.
VIDEO EQUIPMENT ON SCHOOL BUSES
As a means to help ensure safety and proper conduct on School Board owned and/or contracted school buses, it shall be the policy of the Board that video surveillance equipment be allowed and/or required when such equipment is requested and approved by the Transportation Supervisor, and operated under rules and regulations established by the Superintendent.
The purchase and installation of such equipment shall be the responsibility of the Board for Board owned buses, or of the contract drivers for their buses. Ownership of the equipment, including the housing thereof, shall remain with the Board or contract driver.
Strict adherence to laws and rules of confidentiality shall be maintained in the viewing of tapes and use of equipment to assure compliance with laws and regulations regarding the privacy rights of students and employees.
CHILD REMINDER ALARM SYSTEM
All route school buses used in Vernon Parish Schools shall be required to have Child Reminder Alarm Systems which shall remain connected and in good working order.
USE OF CELLULAR TELEPHONES
The School Board may authorize the issuance of cellular telephones to all bus drivers. However, no person shall engage in a call on a cellular telephone or similar device while driving a school bus. The use of cellular telephones by school bus operators may be authorized in an emergency situation involving:
1. An emergency system response operator, 911 safety dispatcher, or school administrator;
2. A hospital or emergency room;
3. A physician’s office or health clinic;
4. An ambulance or fire department rescue service;
5. A fire department, fire protection district, or volunteer fire department;
6. A law enforcement agency.
POST TRIP INSPECTIONS
In accordance with the commercial driver’s license program requirements and the Louisiana Department of Education’s Bulletin 1475, Operational and Vehicle Maintenance Procedures, all bus drivers shall perform post-trip inspections of their buses. Any driver who fails to adequately perform a post-trip inspection that results in a child being left on the bus when the driver vacates the bus at the end of each individual trip (route, run, event, etc.) shall be disciplined as follows:
First Offense: Driver will be suspended for a minimum of 60 days without pay.
A full investigation will follow and the Board will decide if further action is necessary.
If a bus alarm is found to be disabled or disconnected, the driver will be immediately terminated.
Second Offense: Driver will be immediately terminated.
Revised: June, 2005
Revised: April, 2006
Revised: August, 2006
Revised: December, 2008
Revised: September, 2010
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. 32:289, 32:398, 32:871; School Transportation Handbook, Bulletin 1191, Minimum Standards for School Buses, Bulletin 1213, Operational and Vehicle Maintenance Procedures, Bulletin 1475, Louisiana Department of Education; Board minutes, 3-18-03, 4-12-05, 5-10-05, 6-1-06, 2-5-09.
DISMISSAL OF EMPLOYEES
It shall be the policy of the Vernon Parish School Board to strive to assist personnel in every way possible to adjust to their positions and to perform their duties satisfactorily. Every reasonable effort shall be made to avoid the necessity of dismissing personnel at any level.
With the exception of lay-offs caused by programmatic changes, budget cuts, staff reorganizations, and/or reductions in force, no School Board employee shall be dismissed except upon valid reasons. Any school employee shall be dismissed by the Board, in accordance with statutory provisions, upon final conviction or pleading nolo contendere of certain crimes enumerated in La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §15:587.1 and/or any other felony.
CERTIFICATED EMPLOYEES
A permanent teacher shall not be removed from his/her position except upon written and signed charges of willful neglect of duty, or incompetency, dishonesty, or immorality, or of being a member of or contributing to any group, organization, movement, or corporation that is by law or injunction prohibited from operating in the state of Louisiana, and then only if found guilty after a hearing by the School Board by a majority of the Board’s membership.
The Board, if it decides to proceed upon the charges, shall notify the tenured teacher in writing at least twenty (20) days prior to the hearing, stating the charges brought against him/her, and shall arrange for a hearing to be held in accordance with due process provisions of the law, such hearing to be public or private at the option of the tenured teacher.
During the probationary term of an employee of the school district, the Board may dismiss an employee upon the written recommendation of the Superintendent; said recommendation to include valid reasons for the dismissal.
Performance Contracts
Professional personnel who have entered into employment contracts with the Board may be removed from employment upon being found incompetent, inefficient, or failing to fulfill the terms and performance objectives of his/her contract during the term of his/her contract. Notification of termination of an employment contract shall be in accordance with terms of the contract and applicable state law. Any person so removed shall be entitled to written charges, notice of hearings, and a fair hearing before the Board. If the person so removed had previously acquired tenure, then upon removal or non-renewal of contract, he/she shall be returned to his/her former position or one of equal salary as his/her former position, unless the employee chooses to terminate his/her employment.
SUPPORT PERSONNEL
Bus Operators
During his/her probationary term, a bus operator may be dismissed by the Board upon the Superintendent's written recommendation, accompanied by valid reasons therefore.
Any school bus operator found unsatisfactory by the Board at the expiration of his/her probationary term shall be notified in writing by the District that he/she has been discharged or dismissed.
A permanent school bus operator shall not be removed from his/her position except upon written and signed charges of willful neglect of duty, or incompetence, or immorality, or drunkenness while on duty, failure to comply with requirements of La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §17:491.3 relative to being arrested for one or more of the specified offenses, or physical disability to perform his/her duties, or failure to keep his/her transfer equipment in a safe, comfortable, and practical operating condition, or of being a member of or contributing to any group, organization, movement, or corporation that is prohibited by law or injunction from operating in the state, and then only if found guilty after a hearing by the School Board by a majority of the Board’s membership. An additional ground for the removal from office of any permanent school bus operator shall be the abolition, discontinuance, or consolidation of routes, but then only if it is found as a fact, after a hearing by the School Board, that it is in the best interests of the school system to abolish, discontinue, or consolidate said route or routes.
All hearings shall be private or public, at the option of the operator affected thereby. At least twenty (20) days in advance of the date of the hearing the Superintendent, with approval of the School Board, shall furnish the affected operator a copy of the written grounds on which said abolition, discontinuance, or consolidation of routes is sought. The operator affected shall have the right to appear before the Board with witnesses in his/her behalf and with counsel of his/her selection, all of whom shall be heard by the Board at said hearing.
If a permanent school bus operator is found guilty, the Superintendent shall furnish to the school bus operator a written statement of recommendation of removal or discipline, which shall include but not be limited to the exact reason, offense, or instance upon which the recommendation is based.
In the event that one or more school bus operators must be removed due to the abolition, discontinuance, or consolidation of routes, the principle of seniority shall apply, so that the last school bus operator hired to serve within the school system to be affected shall be the first to be removed.
Support Employees Other Than Bus Operators
Dismissal of any non-tenured support school employee shall be accomplished in accordance with the following procedure:
(1) Should the Superintendent determine that the dismissal of a non-tenured employee is warranted, he/she shall make a written recommendation of dismissal to the School Board. The recommendation shall outline the reasons thereof, and a copy of said recommendation shall be provided to the employee.
(2) The School Board shall be asked to act upon the recommended dismissal at the next meeting following its receipt of such written recommendation.
As used herein, non-tenured employees shall refer to those school employees who have not attained tenure, including, without limitation, janitors/custodians, teachers' aides, clerical employees, maintenance workers, and cafeteria workers.
Revised: November, 2003
Revised: September, 2010
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. 15:587.1, 17:15, 17:81.5, 17:443, 17:444, 17:492, 17:493; Board minutes, 12-8-87, 12-4-03.
Randi Gleason reported that the Policy Council had met on February 7, 2011. Training was given on confidentiality. The following information was presented for approval:
the disability process, universal precautions, transportation contract, birth certificate policy, employee discipline policy, tuition payments, health plan policy, and a biting policy. The budget was reviewed and the next Policy Council Meeting will be March 7, 2011 at 9:00AM.
On motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.
On motion of Gerald Cooley, seconded by Steve Woods, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay the claims.
In other business, Superintendent Self reminded Board members of lunch/tour of Anacoco schools today. Superintendent Self also gave an update on cafeteria managers/assistant manager’s certification deadlines.
Colonel Burns gave updates on training at Fort Polk and the deployments.
On motion of Beryl Ford, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board take this means to express their sympathy to the family of Brooke Ann Belton who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Brooke was the sister of Kim Hoecker, teacher at South Polk Elementary, the daughter-in-law of Jackie Belton, retired bus driver and the sister-in-law of Candy Bennett, teacher at East Leesville Elementary; and
WHEREAS, Brooke was a Leesville High School graduate and a lifelong resident of Leesville and she will be greatly missed by her family and many friends;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Vernon Parish School Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to her family at this time of sadness.
On motion of Robert Pynes, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board take this means to express their condolences to the family of Hattie Fields who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Fields was the mother of Reverend Harrison Fields, retired teacher; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Fields was a resident of Ferriday and she will be greatly missed by her family and friends; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Vernon Parish School Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to her family at this time of sadness.
On motion of Randi Gleason, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board take this means to express their condolences to the family of Maxine Hudson who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Hudson was the mother of Pat Kay, retired secretary and the mother-in-law of Ricky Kay, retired maintenance supervisor; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Hudson was a resident of Leesville and she will be greatly missed by her family and friends; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Vernon Parish School Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to her family at this time of sadness.
On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sympathy to the family of Debra Kay Brinkley Felix who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Felix was the sister of Roger Brinkley, paraprofessional at Pickering Elementary School; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Felix was a resident of Radcliff and she will be dearly missed by her family and friends; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Vernon Parish School Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to his family at this time of sadness.
On motion of Jerry Jeane, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board take this means to express their sympathy to the family of Gayle Woods who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Woods was the aunt of Steve Woods, District One Board Member; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Woods was very active in the community and a supporter of Vernon Parish Schools; now
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Vernon Parish School Board requests a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to her family at this time of sorrow.
There being no further business, on motion of Jerry Jeane, seconded by the Board, the meeting was adjourned.
_____________________________________
BERYL FORD, BOARD VICE-PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
_________________________________
JACKIE D. SELF, SUPERINTENDENT