OCTOBER 14, 2014
DRAFT
THE VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION AT 10:00 A.M., 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LOUISIANA. PRESIDENT PERKINS CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:
MICHAEL PERKINS, PRESIDENT
DOUG BRANDON, VICE-PRESIDENT
MEL HARRIS
ROBERT PYNES JR.
JOHN BLANKENBAKER
RICHARD SCHWARTZ
RANDY MARTIN
STEVE WOODS
MICHAEL PERKINS
ABSENT: VERNON L. TRAVIS JR., GERALD COOLEY, JERRY L. JEANE, COL. T. GLENN MOORE
There was also present Mr. James Williams, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Reverend Jeff Coleman.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Steve Woods.
On motion of Mel Harris, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the October 9, 2014 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes.
Mr. Logan Morris recognized Bobbie Holder as PCAL Bus Driver of the Year and stated that all eleven nominations this year were for Mrs. Holder. Mrs. Leigh Lansdale, Principal at Pickering Elementary School, accepted the award for Mrs. Holder. Mrs. Lansdale stated that Mrs. Holder had been a dedicated bus driver for 26 ½ years.
Superintendent Williams recognized Rosepine High School and West Leesville Elementary School. The State of Louisiana nominated five schools for the National Blue Ribbon Honors Award – two of these schools were from Vernon Parish. Rosepine High School was selected as a winner in the Exemplary High Performing Schools and will be honored in Washington D.C. by the United States Department of Education.
West Leesville Elementary School was selected as a Finalist for the Award in the Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing School but missed the award this year because of criteria changes – they had met the criteria for the past nine years. Superintendent Williams commended both of these schools for their dedication and excellent job of working with students. Mrs. Joan Simmons, Mr. Ed Koenck and Mr. Steve Thomas stated this was a joint effort between administrators, teachers and students and thanked all involved for their dedication and hard work.
On motion of Randi Gleason, second by Steve Woods, the Board requested permission to post SLD Form 470 that will be used for our 2015-2016 E-Rate Funding Year.
On motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by Randy Martin, the Board voted to approve the following Leave Without Pay request:
Jeffrey, Elizabeth, cook/LJHS-MED LWOP 8-25-14/?
On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board voted to accept the following employee retirements:
Donaho, Beverly, teacher/NPE
Nicks, Theresa, sped aide/Hornbeck
Holder, Bobbie, bus driver/PES
On motion of Doug Brandon, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to approve the following policies:
TERM OF OFFICE
All members of the Vernon Parish School Board shall serve for four-year concurrent terms. School Board members shall be elected at the same time as members of the United States Congress are elected to office, as provided for by statute.
The term of each member shall begin on January 1, following his/her election and expire on December 31, four (4) years later. Effective January 1, 2014, School Board members shall be limited to three (3) consecutive four-year terms.
Revised: September, 2014
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:52, 17:60.4, 17:71.2, 17:71.3.
NOTIFICATION OF SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS
The Vernon Parish School Board shall give written public notice of all regular meetings, if established by resolution, at the beginning of each calendar year. The School Board shall also give written public notice of any regular, special, or rescheduled meeting, no later than twenty-four (24) hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, before the meeting. In cases of extraordinary emergencies, such notice shall not be required, however, the School Board shall give such notice of the meeting as it deems appropriate and circumstances permit.
Notice for committee meetings shall be given one (1) week in advance of the date of the meeting, whenever possible, but in no case less than twenty-four (24) hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, prior to the meeting.
Public notice of any meeting shall include the agenda, date, time, and place of the meeting. The agenda included in the notice shall be reasonably clear so as to advise the public in general terms of each subject to be discussed at the public meeting. In addition, attached to the written notice shall be information on any matters to be discussed in executive session. The notice shall indicate the following:
1. A statement identifying the court, case number, and the parties relative to any pending litigation to be considered at the meeting.
2. A statement identifying the parties involved and reasonably identifying the subject matter of any prospective litigation for which formal written demand has been made that is to be considered at the meeting.
Written public notice given by the School Board shall include, but not be limited to:
1. Posting a copy of the notice at the School Board's central office or by publication of the notice in the School Board's official journal no less than twenty-four (24) hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, before the scheduled time of the meeting.
2. Mailing a copy of the notice to any member of the news media who requests notice of such meetings; any such member of the news media shall be given notice of all meetings in the same manner as is given to members of the School Board.
3. In addition to the above, by providing notice on the School Board’s website no less than twenty-four (24) hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, immediately preceding the meeting.
Revised: November, 2012 Revised: September, 2014
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 42:19, 42:19.1, 42:23; Board minutes, 12-11-12.
AGENDA PREPARATION AND DISSEMINATION
The Vernon Parish School Board President shall direct the Superintendent to prepare, or cause to be prepared, an agenda for all regular School Board meetings. Items of business may be suggested by School Board members, administrative staff, employees, school patrons, or lay citizens of the school district for inclusion on the agenda. The agenda shall not be changed less than twenty-four (24) hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, prior to the scheduled time of the meeting.
Each item on the agenda shall be listed separately and described with reasonable specificity. Before the School Board may take any action on the agenda item, the presiding officer shall read aloud the description of the item.
A request to be considered for a place on the agenda by any group or individual other than a School Board member shall be filed in writing with the Superintendent at least five (5) working days prior to the next School Board meeting. Any material to be used must be submitted at the time of request. Citizens of the school district shall be given special consideration for addressing the School Board.
Items of business not on the agenda may not be suggested from the floor for discussion except upon unanimous approval of the members present at a meeting. The motion to add an item not on the agenda shall identify the item with reasonable specificity, including the purpose for the proposed addition to the agenda, and shall be entered into the minutes. In keeping with state law and School Board policy, prior to any vote to add an item to the agenda, there shall be an opportunity for public comment on the motion.
All School Board meeting materials and supporting data shall be disseminated to the members of the School Board so that they are received no later than the Friday of the week preceding any School Board meeting, whenever possible. The Superintendent may amend or revise an agenda between the time of preparation and the meeting date, but the School Board shall have the discretion as to whether it will consider the additional items.
Revised: September, 2008
Revised: November, 2012
Revised: September, 2014
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §42:19; Jackson v. Assumption Parish School Board, App. 1 Cir. 1995, 652 So2d 549, 1994-0901 (La. App. 1 Circ. 3/3/95); Board minutes, 10-7-08, 12-11-12.
MINUTES OF SCHOOL 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.
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 School Board in a book provided for that purpose and, within twenty (20) days after the meeting, he/she will present them to be published one time in the official journal of the School Board. The acts of the School Board are filed and maintained in its administrative offices as public records and shall not be moved therefrom.
The School Board shall post on its website a copy of the School Board minutes made available for publication and shall maintain a copy of those minutes on its website for at least three (3) months after the posting. The School Board shall post the minutes on its website within ten (10) days after publication in the official journal.
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.
OFFICIAL JOURNAL
The School Board shall select a newspaper as the official journal of the School Board to publish all official minutes of School Board meetings, as well as all other legal advertising. The official journal shall meet all qualifications as outlined in state law and any others the School Board may prescribe.
Revised: August, 2010
Revised: May, 2011
Revised: September, 2014
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 42:12, 42:13, 42:20, 43:141, 43:144, 43:145; Board minutes, 2-8-11.
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
The Vernon Parish School Board shall be authorized to hold meetings that are closed to the public upon formal motion made, seconded and carried by two-thirds of its members present at an open meeting for which proper notice has been given. The reason for holding a meeting closed to the public and the vote of each member on the question shall be stated in open meeting. Executive sessions shall be limited to matters allowed to be exempted from discussion at open meetings, however, no final or binding action shall be taken during such a closed meeting and the meeting shall not be used as subterfuge to defeat the purposes outlined in the statutes.
Executive sessions may be held for the following reasons:
1. Discussion of the character, the professional competence, physical or mental health of a person, provided that such person is notified in writing at least twenty-four (24) hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, before the scheduled time contained in the notice of the meeting at which such executive session is to take place, and that such person may require that such discussion be held at an open meeting. However, an executive session shall not be used for discussion of the appointment of a person to the School Board or, except as provided in La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §39:1593(C)(2)(c), for discussing the award of a public contract. In cases of extraordinary emergency, written notice to such person shall not be required; however, the School Board shall give such notice as it deems appropriate and circumstances permit.
2. Strategy sessions or negotiations with respect to collective bargaining or litigation, when an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the School Board. Attached to the written public notice of the meeting shall be whether or not such matters will be discussed in an executive session. The notice shall indicate the following:
A statement identifying the court, case number, and the parties relative to any pending litigation to be considered at the meeting.
A statement identifying the parties involved and reasonably identifying the subject matter of any prospective litigation for which formal written demand has been made that is to be considered at the meeting.
In cases of extraordinary emergency, such notice shall not be required; however, the School Board shall give such notice of the meeting as it deems appropriate and circumstances permit.
3. Discussion regarding the report, development, or course of action regarding security personnel, plans or devices;
4. Investigative proceedings regarding allegations of misconduct;
5. Cases of extraordinary emergency, which shall be limited to natural disaster, threat of epidemic, civil disturbances, suppression of insurrections, or the repelling of invasions, or other matters of similar magnitude; and/or
6. Any other matters now provided for or as may be provided for by the Legislature.
Louisiana statutes do not prohibit the removal of any person or persons who willfully disrupt a meeting to the extent that orderly conduct of the meeting is seriously compromised.
Revised: August, 1989
Revised: November, 1989
Revised: August, 2011
Revised: September, 2014
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 42:12, 42:13, 42:14, 42:16, 42:17, 42:19, 42:24, 42:25, 42:28; Board minutes, 2-8-89, 10-11-11.
SUBSTITUTES
SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS
The Vernon Parish School Board shall require the compilation of a list of qualified individuals to serve as day-by-day substitute teachers within the school district. The Superintendent or his/her designee shall prepare the list assuring that all those listed possess appropriate employment criteria, including verification of teachers' qualifications and certification.
Principals or their designated representatives shall call substitute teachers from the approved list in case of absence of a regular teacher. It shall be the responsibility of the principal and the regular teacher to ensure that the substitute teacher has the necessary instructions and materials to teach effectively, including textbooks, lesson plans, class rolls, schedules and an outline of local school procedures.
Retired teachers may be employed as substitute teachers provided that use of retired teachers as substitutes is in accordance with the rules and regulations established by the Teacher's Retirement System of Louisiana and pertinent statutory provisions.
Qualified teachers may also be selected to substitute for teachers who plan to be absent for long periods of time. Provisions shall be made for the hiring of, or contracting with applicable substitute teachers in these instances as developed by the Superintendent and staff.
Compensation paid to substitute teachers shall be based upon the degree status of the substitute in accordance with a pay schedule as set by the School Board.
Any school employee whose job does not require a teaching certificate who performs work as a substitute teacher for more than a single class period shall be compensated for that time at the rate of a substitute teacher. The principal or his/her designee shall authorize the school employee to act as a substitute teacher prior to the employee’s participation in the classroom as a substitute, and shall verify the hours as a substitute teacher for payroll purposes.
SUBSTITUTES FOR SUPPORT PERSONNEL
The School Board shall require the maintenance of a list of properly qualified and approved substitute personnel eligible to substitute for support personnel absent from work. Only persons approved by the School Board shall be eligible for employment as substitutes. Appropriate judgment as to actual need should be exercised before employment of a substitute for support personnel.
Bus Operators
The Transportation Supervisor shall maintain a qualified substitute bus operator list. The substitute bus operator list shall be updated as changes occur.
A substitute bus operator may only be used as a temporary resource until a permanent operator can be appointed to a route. A substitute operator may not drive a route for a period that exceeds the end of the school year during which the operator began driving the route.
A substitute bus operator shall be paid a daily rate as approved by the School Board, but in no case less than sixty-five percent (65%) of the daily rate of pay being paid the regular bus operator, to be computed by dividing the annual pay of the regular operator by the number of school days in the regularly scheduled session, exclusive of any compensation or mileage allowance for use of a privately owned bus.
Revised: July, 2012
Revised: September, 2014
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§11:710, 17:81, 17:419.3, 17:493.1, 17:500, 17:1212, 17:1213, 17:1216, 17:1217; Board minutes, 9-11-12.
CURRICULUM
The Vernon Parish School Board has the responsibility to establish and maintain a quality program of instruction for the elementary and secondary schools of the school district.
The Superintendent shall be responsible for coordinating and maintaining the instructional program in accordance with the provisions of the state constitution, state statutes, rules and regulations of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), and the policies of the School Board.
The organization and scheduling of subjects in the curriculum of the school district shall conform to BESE requirements and statewide content standards for required subjects. The curriculum shall provide learning experiences and prospective achievement for each child according to their individual needs and offer pupils a basic body of understanding, attitudes, knowledge, and skills.
By the end of the eighth (8th) grade, every student, with the assistance of his/her parent or other legal custodian and school counselor, and for a student with an exceptionality, except a student identified as gifted or talented and who has no other exceptionality, the student’s Individualized Education Program team, if applicable, shall begin to develop an Individual Graduation Plan to guide future academic course work in order for the student to explore education and career possibilities. The plan shall be reviewed annually and updated as necessary to identify the courses to be taken each year until all required core courses are completed. Each student’s Individual Graduation Plan shall be signed by the student, the student’s parent or other legal custodian, and the school counselor.
CAREER MAJOR
The curriculum design within the high schools shall include a career major comprised of challenging academic courses and modern career and technical studies. Such a curriculum design shall allow each high school student to choose a career option at the high school level, which includes activities designed to introduce students to occupations in demand in Louisiana. The School Board shall develop and offer one or more career major programs aligned to state and regional workforce demands, pursuant to policies adopted by BESE.
ELECTIVES
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) has granted school systems the authority to develop, review, and approve all locally-initiated electives, in accordance with the Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, Bulletin 741. The process shall ensure alignment with standards-based initiatives, compliance with current BESE policies, and all laws and regulations pertaining to students with disabilities. Elective courses shall enhance, expand, and/or refine the core curriculum. Elective courses shall not replace, duplicate, or significantly overlap the content of core curriculum or other approved electives.
Proper documentation of all approved electives shall be maintained by the School Board.
Revised: December, 1997
Revised: July, 1999
Revised: October, 2001
Revised: December, 2009
Revised: July, 2013
Revised: September, 2014
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:154, 17:181, 17:182, 17:183, 17:183.1, 17:183.2, 17:183.3, 17:183.5, 17:261, 17:262, 17:2925;Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, Bulletin 741, Louisiana Department of Education; Board minutes, 1-12-10, 7-11-13.
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
The Vernon Parish School Board strongly encourages the utilization of a wide variety of materials and equipment in the instructional program. The selection of media should be determined by the objectives of the course and the experiences and activities to be provided in efforts to meet such objectives. Teachers are encouraged to keep abreast of the types of materials and equipment which can contribute toward meeting the goals and objectives of courses. Teachers are further encouraged to assist the administration in the selection and purchase of such materials and equipment for the school.
Available system resources, including personnel, materials, and supplies, shall be allocated to schools on an equitable basis, recognizing system policies and local school needs.
PARENTAL ACCESS TO INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
A parent of a child attending a public elementary or secondary school shall be entitled to access to instructional materials as provided by law. A parent shall be entitled to:
1. Review instructional materials used by or administered to the parent's child.
2. Review any survey before the survey is administered or distributed by a school to a student.
The Superintendent and/or his/her designee shall develop and maintain pertinent administrative regulations and procedures governing parental access to instructional materials. At a minimum, such regulations and procedures shall specify reasonable hours for review, that instructional materials shall be provided upon reasonable request of the parent, and reasonable and customary fees for copying of material(s) requested. Nothing shall prohibit or interfere with the parent making his/her own copies on school premises using any mobile or other device.
For the purpose of this policy:
Instructional materialsmean content that conveys the knowledge or skills of a subject in the school curriculum through a medium or a combination of media for conveying information to a student. It also includes any nonsecure test, nonsecure assessment, or survey administered to a student. The term also includes books, supplementary materials, teaching aids, computer software, magnetic media, DVD, CD-ROM, computer courseware, online material, information, or services, or an electronic medium or other means of conveying information to the student or otherwise contributing to the learning process.
Parent means the parent or legal guardian of a child.
Survey means any evaluative instrument or questionnaire that is not an assessment of academic knowledge, skills, or abilities, administered as part of a state, national, or international assessment or by itself.
Revised: September, 2014
Ref: Constitution of Louisiana, Art. VII, '13; La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 17:355; Board minutes, 5-5-83.
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 School Board may prescribe.
The School Board shall grant admission or readmission to school to any person who meets all of the following criteria:
1. Resides within the geographic boundaries of the school system.
2. Meets the eligibility requirements for school entrance pursuant to statutory provisions
3. Is nineteen (19) years of age or younger on September 30th of the calendar year in which the school year begins or is twenty (20) years of age on September 30th of the calendar year in which the school year begins and has sufficient course credits that he/she will be able to graduate within one (1) school year of admission or readmission.
4. Has not received a high school diploma or its equivalent.
5. Is otherwise eligible for enrollment in a public school pursuant to state law and the policies of the School Board and the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
If a person meets all of the criteria stated above, the School Board shall not deny admission or readmission based on any of the following characteristics:
1. The person voluntarily withdrew from school.
2. The person is pregnant.
3. The person is a parent.
4. The person is married.
The admission or readmission of a person who will be twenty (20) years of age on September 30th of the calendar year in which the school year begins shall be limited to grade twelve (12).
The admission or readmission of a person with an exceptionality shall be subject to federal and state law governing the age of eligibility for services for students with exceptionalities.
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 shall be given a fifteen (15) day grace period to secure a copy of their birth record. Children born out of Louisiana shall 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 satisfactory evidence of immunity to or immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases according to the age appropriate schedule approved by the Office of Public Health, Department of Health and Hospitals.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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 School 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.
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 School 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: September, 2014
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, 17:3913; 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, 2-8-11.
ATTENDANCE REPORTS FOR STUDENT DRIVERS
In accordance with state law, students are obligated to attend school regularly, and be in attendance a minimum number of days during the school year. In order for a minor to obtain or renew a driver’s license or learner’s permit for the operation of a motor vehicle, the minor shall present evidence to the Office of Motor Vehicles that the minor is enrolled and is attending school or a recognized program or has completed the required minimum units of credit for graduation. Such documentation shall be verified by the principal on forms provided by the Louisiana Department of Education, and said documentation shall be valid for ninety (90) days from the date of issuance.
A student who does not meet the required minimum school attendance provisions may be subject to denial or suspension of his/her driver’s license or learner’s permit. It is the policy of the Vernon Parish School Board to provide written notification of a minor student who has been determined by the principal to be a dropout or habitually absent or tardy to the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles for denial or suspension of driving privileges.
In addition, a minor student’s driver’s license or permit may also be suspended when written notification is received by the Office of Motor Vehicles from the principal that the minor student has been expelled or suspended from school or assigned to an alternative educational setting for ten (10) or more consecutive school days. Such disciplinary action shall be limited to expulsions, suspensions, or alternative educational assignments for infractions involving the sale or possession of drugs, alcohol, or any other illegal substance, the possession of a firearm, or an infraction involving assault or battery of a member of the school faculty or staff.
The School Board, through the principal, shall provide written notification to any minor whom the principal has determined to be a dropout or habitually absent or tardy and his/her parent or guardian that the principal intends to subject the minor to driver’s license denial or suspension. The written notification shall advise the minor of his/her right to seek a hearing of the School Board of such determination or to make a request of the School Board to obtain a hardship waiver within fifteen (15) days of the mailing of the notification. The principal shall send a copy of the notification to the School Board.
If the School Board is notified of a request for a hearing or a request for a hardship license within fifteen (15) days after the date of mailing the written notification, the School Board shall hold a hearing to make a determination upon such request. If no such request is received by the School Board, or if the School Board determines after a hearing that such student is a dropout or is habitually absent or tardy and is not entitled to a hardship waiver, then the School Board shall provide written notification to the Office of Motor Vehicles that the minor’s license should be suspended or denied.
HARDSHIP WAIVER
The School Board may waive the attendance requirements for any minor for whom a personal, family, or economic hardship requires the minor to have a driver’s license for his/her own, or his/her family’s employment or medical care as provided in La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §17:226. The minor or his/her parent or legal guardian may present other evidence that indicates compliance with attendance requirements outlined in state law at the waiver hearing.
The School Board shall notify the Office of Motor Vehicles of the outcome of the minor’s hardship waiver hearing within twenty-four (24) hours after conducting the hearing.
DEFINITIONS
Dropout, for purposes of this policy, means a person fifteen (15) years of age or older but less than eighteen (18) years old, who was enrolled in a school and withdrew or who was enrolled at the end of the previous school year and is not enrolled on October first of the following school year or who has more than ten (10) consecutive days of unexcused absences from school or fifteen (15) days total unexcused absences during a single semester.
Dropout does not mean a person who:
a. is temporarily absent due to illness, suspension, or expulsion;
b. is attending or has graduated or completed another educational program approved by the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education;
c. transferred to a nonpublic school, a correctional institution, or an approved home school program or moved out of state.
Habitually absent or tardy is when either condition continues to exist after all reasonable efforts by a principal or other appropriate authority have failed to correct the condition after the fifth (5th) unexcused absence or fifth (5th) unexcused occurrence of being tardy within any month or if a pattern of five (5) absences a month is established or as otherwise provided in La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §17:233.
Minor means an unemancipated child who is at least fifteen (15) years of age but less than eighteen (18) years of age.
New policy: June, 2010
Revised: September, 2014
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 17:221, 17:226, 17:233, 17:416, 32:414, 32:431, 32:431.1; Board minutes, 8-5-10.
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 his/her designee, and the bus driver be allowed not to travel the road until the Superintendent or his/herdesignee 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.
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.
LOADING AND UNLOADING OF STUDENTS
The loading and unloading of students onto and from school buses being utilized to transport students shall be conditional on the following:
1. Bus drivers shall be prohibited from loading or unloading students at school while the bus is in a traffic lane of any type of street as defined in state law and require that students be loaded or unloaded on a shoulder, in a school parking lot, or at other appropriate off-road location at the school as determined by the School Board. This requirement shall not apply if the shoulder of a municipal road is the only available alternative and the municipality has not made the shoulder available by designating that area for loading and unloading students during designated school zone hours.
2. Bus drivers shall be prohibited from loading or unloading students at or near their homes while the bus is in a traffic lane of any type of street as defined by state law and require that students be loaded or unloaded on a shoulder. However, if there is no shoulder, a bus driver may load and unload a student while the bus is in a lane of traffic but only if the bus is in the lane farthest to the right side of the road so that the student does not need to cross any lane of traffic to get onto or off of the bus.
3. Bus drivers shall be prohibited from loading or unloading students either at school or at or near their homes in a manner or in a location that results in students crossing lanes of traffic on a state highway or any other type of street.
Street or highway means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way or place of whatever nature publicly maintained and open to the use of the public for the purpose of vehicular travel, including bridges, causeways, tunnels, and ferries.
Revised: August, 2010
Revised: September, 2014
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. ''17:158, 32:1; Board minutes, 10-2-03, 2-8-11.
On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by John Blankenbaker, the Board voted to approve the following Headstart policies/procedures which were discussed on October 9, 2014:
*VPHS Monitoring Classroom Environment/Promoting Social Emotional Competence
*Monitoring Improvement Action Plan (MIAP)
*VPHS Communication/Information Sharing with the Governing Body and Policy Council
*VPHS New Education Staff Training Plan
*VPHS Job Description for Substitute Teacher
*VPHS Policy for Obtaining Substitute Teacher for Classroom
It was noted that VPHS will report monthly on the number of breakfasts and lunches served to Headstart students.
On motion of Randi Gleason, seconded by Mel Harris, the Board voted to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes.
On motion of Randy Martin, seconded by Doug Brandon, the Board voted to authorize the president and secretary to pay the claims.
Superintendent Williams reminded Board members of the On-Line Ethics Training and of the November 6th and 13th Board meetings.
There being no further business, and on motion of Randi Gleason, seconded by the Board, the meeting was adjourned.
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MICHAEL PERKINS, PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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JAMES WILLIAMS, SUPERINTENDENT