St. John the Baptist Parish School Board adopts multiple policy revisions, authorizes settlement and routine procurement

At its regular Nov. 7 meeting in Reserve, the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board adopted a set of revised and new policies, authorized settlement authority in pending litigation, and approved several procurement and surplus actions.

Board members voted to approve Revised Policy DID (Audits), which requires periodic financial and compliance audits, sets an annual independent audit requirement, and requires posting the most recent audit on the district website within 30 days of Legislative Auditor approval. Revised policy EBBC (Emergency/Crisis Management) was adopted; it requires each school to maintain a Crisis Management and Response Plan, establish a District Threat Assessment Team, conduct annual safety drills including active shooter scenarios, and report annually to the board and state agencies.

The board approved Revised Policy EBBI (Public Health Emergency), which gives the Superintendent authority during declared public health emergencies to implement administrative rules aligned with Chapter 4 of Bulletin 741 and state health guidance; the policy sets phased group-size limits, face-covering guidance, screening and isolation procedures, cleaning protocols and bus capacity rules. That motion passed 8–2 (nays recorded from Burl and Morris).

The board also adopted new Policy EBCB (Video/Audio Monitoring of School Board Property). The policy authorizes use of district-owned video and audio cameras in public areas of school property with notice (including signage), restricts placement where privacy is expected, limits retention of recordings (30–90 days unless retained longer for incidents), limits access to authorized personnel, and establishes procedures for requests to view recordings. The vote was 9–1 with one absence.

Revisions to Policy ED (Student Transportation Management) were approved, restating CDL and inspection requirements for school bus operators, inspection schedules, bus replacement and purchase rules, and restrictions on van use for student transport.

The board moved several administrative and procurement items: it granted settlement authority to Attorney Jeff Diaz on a pending court docket (Docket No. 77,961); tabled a change order for millwork at Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet School; approved advertising for a contractor to repair/purchase custodial equipment; awarded a custodial supplies contract to the lowest responsive bidder (Economical Janitorial); and declared several Food & Nutrition items surplus. These motions were recorded with roll-call tallies in the meeting minutes.

Most policy items included statutory references in the meeting packet and were approved on the meeting date. Several personnel- and records-related policy updates (including sick leave and maternity/adoptive leave) were introduced for future consideration and were not voted on at this meeting.

The board adjourned at 8:19 p.m. The transcript does not record detailed implementation timelines or funding sources for many of the adopted policies; those details will be provided in subsequent administrative reports or agenda items.