St. John the Baptist Parish School Board approves five policies on dismissal, discipline, admissions, crisis response and equity

The St. John the Baptist Parish School Board on Aug. 4 approved five policies addressing employee dismissal, discipline, student admission, emergency/crisis response and educational equity.

Interim Superintendent Rebecca Johnson presented the agenda items and public commenter Dr. Curt Green asked that the policies be adopted. The board approved Policy GBN (Dismissal of Employees) on a motion by Wallace, seconded by Schum; the meeting record shows the motion carried on roll call. Policy GBN cites La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §15:587.1 and describes statutory grounds for dismissal, notification and reporting requirements to the State Superintendent of Education.

The board then approved Policy GBK (Employee Discipline) on a motion by Keller, seconded by Triche. GBK outlines progressive-discipline principles, distinguishes procedures for tenured and non‑tenured teachers, and sets timelines and hearing procedures for disciplinary hearings and disciplinary hearing officers.

Policy JBC (School Admission) was approved on a motion by Wallace, seconded by Jones. JBC defines residency and age eligibility rules, required documentation for enrollment (birth certificate, immunization records, prior-school records), placement-testing requirements for certain grade transfers, special provisions for children of military families and rules regarding admission of expelled or felony‑convicted students (admission may be denied except by School Board review).

Policy EBBC (Emergency/Crisis Management) was approved on a motion by Jones, seconded by DeFrancesch. EBBC requires each principal to prepare a written crisis-management and response plan jointly with local emergency and public-safety officials, conduct annual reviews and drills, and report drill results in writing to the Superintendent.

Policy JAA (Equitable Educational Opportunities) was approved on a motion by Jones, seconded by Triche. JAA reaffirmed nondiscrimination, described objectives to raise achievement and reduce racial disproportionality across discipline and programs, and authorized the Superintendent to develop an action plan with clear accountability and annual reporting to the board.

Votes were recorded on the meeting minutes for each motion; the minutes list roll-call tallies for each motion in the meeting record. The policies reference applicable state statutory provisions where noted and assign implementation responsibilities to the Superintendent and principals. The Superintendent will report progress on equity and crisis-planning items at future meetings.