School board adopts tighter rules on electronic communications during executive sessions

The Lafayette Parish School Board voted to adopt an amendment to Policy BC that tightens rules governing electronic communications during executive sessions and authorizes the presiding officer to enforce those rules.

Public commenter Sarah Bennett supported stronger safeguards but urged broader transparency, saying the proposed change "reads as an acknowledgment that there are legitimate transparency concerns" with the board's operations. Board members questioned enforceability and potential unintended liability for accidental disclosures. One board member asked whether banning phones would create more social-media controversy.

Bianca Kray Chan, an attorney with the law firm present at the meeting, explained enforcement language in the draft policy: "Step outside and take your phone call, if you need to," she said, noting the amendment allows members to step out for personal calls and gives the presiding officer the authority to address misuse, up to censure in repeated cases. She said the policy includes exceptions for pulling up documents needed in session.

Board members divided on the amendmentut a majority voted to adopt the change; the transcript records the motion as carried on a roll call. Supporters said the policy provides an extra layer of protection for attorney-client privilege and sensitive executive-session matters; critics warned about accidental disclosures and questioned whether the policy would create more enforceability issues than it resolved.

The board's adoption did not create new statutory obligations; rather, it modifies the district's internal administrative policy to set behavioral expectations and enforcement steps for executive sessions. The policy's final administrative implementation and any penalties or censure procedures will be handled by board leadership and legal counsel.