A parent who has been clamoring for a change in virtual education was removed from a St. Landry Parish School Board meeting on Thursday.
Jermaine Greene, has spoken frequently about the subject, but the issue was not on the Board’s agenda and as he talked he was walked out of the meeting by Opelousas Police officers.
The St. Landry Parish school district began the school year on Sept. 8 with virtual instruction, but last week launched classes in schools.
The school district has its Virtual Academy that parents may select, but it is not done in conjunction with the in-class instruction.
Greene said children are failing in the virtual program.
Board President Donnie Perron said the Board has “listened to you all Monday and Tuesday for several hours.”
Earlier in the meeting, Board member Hazel Sias said she had called Perron to schedule a special meeting, but it had not been done.
Board attorney Courtney Joiner said any member can call for a meeting, but must get seven members to be in attendance.
Typically, a meeting is scheduled through the Board president or superintendent, Joiner said.
Perron said Sias contacted him, but he did not feel like a special meeting was needed.
As Greene was informed the item was not on the agenda, Joiner offered to speak to him outside the meeting room.
Sias told Jenkins, “You need to talk to parents and I’m asking you to do that ... All they are asking you to do is listen.”
Also during the meeting, the Board approved a new pay scale for substitute teachers. Substitutes with a high school diploma will be paid $51 a day; $55 with a college degree; $70 with a master’s degree or certification.
Long term pay was increased retroactively from July 1. Long term is from one to 20 days for the same teacher consecutively.
The daily pay with a high school diploma is $65; with a college degree, and master’s degree $85; and $165 for a certified teacher.
