ORLEANS PARISH SCHOOL
BOARD RESOLUTION NO. 24-20
The following resolution was offered by

seconded by

:

A resolution urging all schools under the Orleans Parish School Board’s
jurisdiction to enact policies and plans that will thoughtfully evaluate every
teacher, school employee, and student request for distance learning and
teaching opportunities, allow such opportunities as required by the state of
public health, and support and properly train to teach or learn from home
until it is safe to return to school.
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance
and Disaster Act, La. R.S. 29:721, et seq., the Governor declared a public health
emergency in response to the threat posed by COVID-19;
WHEREAS, the Governor declared that a statewide public health emergency existed in
the State of Louisiana because of COVID-19 and expressly empowered the Governor's
Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness and the Secretary of the
Department of Health and/or the State Health Officer to take all actions authorized
under state law;
WHEREAS, in declaring such a public health emergency, the Governor ordered a
limitation on public gatherings in a single place at the same time in an effort to avoid
individuals being in close proximity to one another to reduce the spread of COVID-19;
WHEREAS, the Governor further closed all public schools for the 2019-2020 academic
year and required all schools to provide or ensure provision of remote or distance
learning;
WHEREAS, as a result of such closure and in order to ensure continuity of education
for students, schools in Orleans Parish pivoted to distance learning models for the
remainder of the 2019-2020 academic year;
WHEREAS, recognizing that distance learning will continue in Orleans Parish public
schools for at least a portion of the 2020-2021 academic year, the Orleans Parish
School Board has adopted Policy IDAA, COVID-19 Distance Learning, which
establishes minimum standards for distance learning in Orleans Parish School Board
direct-operated schools should there be a need for more school closures during the
COVID-19 public health emergency;
WHEREAS, the Orleans Parish School Board also adopted Resolution 23-20, Minimum
Standards for Distance Learning, urging charter schools to adopt minimum standards
for distance learning consistent with Policy IDAA, COVID-19 Distance Learning;

 WHEREAS, teachers, paraprofessionals, social workers, school nurses, and clerical
staff have raised concerns regarding their ability to safely return to school buildings
during the COVID-19 public health emergency;
WHEREAS, teachers, paraprofessionals, social workers, school nurses, and clerical
staff are of great value for the education of students in Orleans Parish and no teacher or
staff member should face reprisals for raising safety concerns in a school or in any work
environment;
WHEREAS, requests for distance teaching opportunities and safety concerns raised by
teachers, paraprofessionals, social workers, school nurses, and clerical staff deserve
thoughtful consideration and response to ensure a safe learning environment for
everyone;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orleans Parish School Board urges all
schools under the Orleans Parish School Board’s jurisdiction to enact policies and plans
that will thoughtfully evaluate every teacher, school employee, and student request for
distance learning and teaching opportunities, allow such opportunities as required by
the state of public health, and support and properly train to teach or learn from home
until it is safe to return to school.
This resolution having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows:
YEAS:
NAYS:
ABSENTS:
ABSTENTIONS:
PASSED AND ADOPTED AT THE ORLEANS PARISH SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS
MEETING held at Timbers, 2401 Westbend Parkway, Multi-purpose Room 1050, New
Orleans, Louisiana, on the 30th day of July, 2020.
ORLEANS PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ethan Ashley President