By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

LUTCHER – The St. James Parish School Board is currently reviewing 14 new and revised policies to be voted on at its next regular meeting.

Of the four new policies, three are transportation-based.

The first stipulates that a minor seeking to obtain or renew a driver’s license must bring a document verifying that he or she attends school regularly. Furthermore, students who are expelled from school may lose their driving privileges. Another deals with who is authorized to operate board-owned or leased vehicles, and the third establishes that all students living over a mile from their school must be provided with regular bus transportation.

The last new policy deals with the employment of retired personnel in the school system.

Many of the revised policies reflect new state laws put in place after the last legislative session. A number of these revised policies deal with school attendance in one form or another. New state laws have tightened the criteria for dropping out of school and increased the number of days a student must be present in class to pass. Consequently, the board’s existing policies regarding such matters had to be revised. One of the biggest changes this year is that students may miss no more than 10 days of school per year to pass their classes.

Other policies that had to be revised to reflect state law include the policy governing student athletic programs, which now must accept home schooled students provided they meet certain qualifications. Also, the state’s new cyberbullying law had to be incorporated into the district’s bullying policy.

The remaining policy revisions all reflect relatively minor changes.

The board will vote on these policies when it next convenes on Oct. 12 in Lutcher.