Lafourche Parish School District

The meeting began with an invocation and pledge of allegiance. Key discussions included the introduction of new administrators: an assistant principal at Rayman Upper Elementary School and an assistant principal at South Laorose Elementary School. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the recognition of musical artists achieving success at the state level through the LMEA symphonic band, orchestra, jazz ensemble, and concert band programs, as well as the newly established handbell ensemble. The board also approved the minutes of the February 4, 2026 meeting and several observances/proclamations for upcoming dates in March and April 2026. Memorial resolutions were adopted for former employees Miss Loretta Lambert and Miss Carol Lamartina. The Policy and Academics Committee recommendations included approvals for revisions to policies regarding test security and annual leave, and revisions to the instructional coach job description. The Land and Facilities Management Committee recommended and the board approved several change order requests related to Hurricane Ida renovation projects at South High School, Central High School Auxiliary Gym, multiple locations, and Bayou Buff Elementary School. New business included considering a recommendation for a new dental insurance carrier, Reliance Matrix, effective March 1, 2026, due to slow payment issues with the previous carrier, Dino Dental.

The Land & Facilities Management Committee meeting included several reports on repair projects. Key discussions involved the status of hurricane repair projects at various locations, including the Golden Meadow main project classroom building, settlement monitoring, and interior renovations. Updates were provided on closeout documents for battle 4, 5, and 10, and the re-roof project being in punch list phase. Reports on athletic field repairs at South High School and Central Lush High School noted delays due to outstanding items like a galvanized stair system and metal panel installation. The committee also reviewed and considered several change orders, including one for HVAC renovations at South Lush High School involving value engineering credits and additions for a necessary air handler replacement and environmentally compromised piping encapsulation. Further items addressed included the demolition project at Building 500 pending a lease agreement, progress on the Bayub Elementary School new school construction, and a boiler replacement project with a reported two-week slip. Finally, change orders were approved for the Central Laush High School auxiliary gym project and the hurricane item multiple locations project concerning rubber base and flooring replacement.

The meeting included discussions and approvals for several policy revisions. Key agenda items covered revisions to the test security policy to align with updated state bulletins regarding cell phone possession in testing environments and to reflect current online testing practices, omitting references to non-existent paper booklets. Another revision addressed Policy GBRK concerning annual leave for 240-day employees, specifically to allow agricultural teachers and ROC instructors to utilize vacation days. The committee also approved revisions to the instructional coach job position, removing the limitation to secondary schools to provide the Chief Academic Officer with greater flexibility in assigning coaches. Furthermore, updates were provided on technology projects, including the successful activation of multifactor authentication and the ongoing transition of the Wide Area Network (WAN) in preparation for a contract expiration. The committee also received an update on child welfare and attendance matters, including statistics on Path Site utilization, expulsion hearings, juvenile court dockets, and coordination efforts with relevant state agencies.

The meeting was convened to review requests for placing items on the main board's agenda, establishing criteria for inclusion such as educational purpose, actionable jurisdiction, and adherence to existing policies. The primary new business involved a public comment session concerning a request to revise curriculum policies, specifically regarding ID-Basic Instructional Program and Sex Education supplementary material selection. A concerned parent detailed graphic and inappropriate sexual content found in a required ninth-grade reading material, citing concerns over potential sexual harassment under policy JCDB, lack of parental opt-out provisions, and age appropriateness for students as young as 13. The committee also discussed the origin of the book being part of the statewide Louisiana Department of Education curriculum. Following the public comments, no motion was made regarding the agenda item, meaning it did not proceed for a vote at this level. The committee noted policy IFA as the procedure for handling material criticism.

The Insurance Committee meeting focused on reviewing and taking appropriate action regarding insurance renewals for the 2023 school year. Key discussions included recommendations for dental and vision insurance, where the committee evaluated proposals, ultimately recommending Ameritas for a combined package due to favorable rates (under four percent increase for dental despite a high loss ratio, and a decrease for vision) and benefit structure (90th percentile for dental reimbursement). The committee also addressed the renewal of life insurance, approving a renewal with Guardian that provided a three-year rate guarantee at current pricing. Furthermore, the renewal for short-term and long-term disability insurance under Cigna (New York Life umbrella) was addressed, securing a three-year rate guarantee at current levels after exploring the market. The process for open enrollment, including passive enrollment options and online platforms, was also discussed.