The Lafayette Parish School Board on Wednesday approved a new virtual discipline policy.
Board members unanimously approved the policy, which states that if a behavior is unacceptable in the physical classroom, in most circumstances it is equally unacceptable in the virtual classroom.
While students have some privacy while learning from home, any kind of unacceptable conduct that occurs in front of the camera and is viewed by the virtual classroom could face disciplinary action. Some of those behaviors include bullying, harassment, profanity, and weapons, along with toys that look like weapons.
How students are disciplined would depend on how serious the actions were. The policy includes anything from a verbal warning or a severe penalty, even for a first offense.
Some speakers voiced their concerns about the policy, including one who wondered where a school's jurisdiction would begin and end in terms of the privacy of a student's home.
The entire approved policy can be read here.
The board also unanimously approved a pay scale extension for the district's bus drivers. Their pay scale will now be extended to 50 years instead of 31 years, and, beginning in year 32, the prior year's step amount will increase by $13 each year.
Also, the board voted to hire two architectural firms using a "Request for Qualifications" process to conduct feasibility studies on Northside High School and J.W. Faulk Elementary School.
Wednesday's meeting was the final one of the year for the current board. The next meeting will be held on January 6, during which new officers will be elected.
To watch Wedesday's meeting, click here.
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