The Iberia Parish School Board has approved an update to its list of hearing officers, a change that marks the first revision in a decade. The decision was made during a meeting held on November 25, 2025, reflecting a necessary step in maintaining compliance with state requirements for disciplinary procedures involving tenured and promotional employees.
Legal counsel Wayne Landry highlighted the importance of this update, noting that every school district is mandated to maintain a current list of hearing officers. “Since 2015, I don’t think we’ve ever updated our list, and we’ve had three or four that have passed away,” Landry stated. He emphasized that the last hearing was conducted in 2011, largely due to significant changes in state regulations that restricted tenure opportunities for certain staff, including bus drivers.
Impact of Tenure Changes on Hearings
Landry explained that the process for handling disciplinary cases has remained largely unchanged over the years. When a tenured employee requests a hearing, a member from the updated list of hearing officers is appointed to review the case. He attributed the lack of hearings in recent years to effective management by the last three superintendents and the Human Resources Department, stating, “They do an excellent job in resolving disciplinary matters. That’s a big reason why this parish hasn’t had a hearing for a very long time.”
In addition to the update on hearing officers, Superintendent of Schools Heath Hulin announced that schools will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday from November 24 to 28. He also informed attendees that school district offices will remain open on Monday and Tuesday of that week. Due to a limited number of agenda items, the next school board meeting will be merged into the mid-December session.
The updates made during the meeting aim to enhance the governance and oversight of disciplinary procedures within the district, ensuring that the framework remains relevant and responsive to the current educational environment.
