E-mail policy up for review

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, September 29, 2009

By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

RESERVE — When the St. John School Board convenes for its regular session tomorrow evening, it will have a full slate of new personnel policies to review.

One of the policies involves electronic communication between school district employees and students. During its last session, the Louisiana Legislature passed a bill, House Bill 570, concerning said communications.

This particular policy became a point of contention when the school board met on Sept. 17.

As Director of Human Resources Leigh Ann Beard delivered her personnel report, board member Ali Burl asked her about policies concerning that particular piece of legislation.

“Have you started to formulate a policy?” he asked, following it up with, “Will it be ready by the next board meeting?”

Beard replied it would be ready.

Board Vice President Patrick Sanders then asked, “In terms of these policies … didn’t they become effective (when the bill was signed into law)?”

The wording of the bill, however, states local school boards have until Nov. 15 to put a policy in place regarding this piece of legislation.

Tomorrow evening, board members will receive copies of all the proposed policies for review. They will vote on the policies on Oct. 15.

l