Bullying & Vernon Parish Public Schools

Bullying is not permitted or condoned by the Vernon Parish Schools.  All students, teachers, and other school employees shall take reasonable measures within the scope of their individual authority to prevent violations of this policy. To read more on the policy, view the Vernon Parish School Board Policy Manual. You can also visit Stop Bullying to learn how to be more than a bystander and what you can do to address bullying in your community or call the Office of Child Welfare and Attendance at (337) 239-3401, Raymond Jones, Director.

Examples of Bullying

Bullying can take on many different forms. Listed below are different types of bullying that can happen and with each type are a few examples that can be associated with that type.

Physical Bullying Examples:

• Causing Physical Injuries

• Stealing

• Punching

• Shoving

• Fighting

• Slapping

• Debagging

• Wedgies

• Attacking

• School Pranks

• Teasing and Abusing

Emotional or Indirect Bullying Examples:

• Spreading Rumors

• Instigating or participating in Keeping certain people out of the "group" (exclusion)

• Instigating or participating in"Ganging Up" on someone

• Ignoring people on purpose - "the silent treatment"

• Harassment

• Provocation

• Whispering to another in front of someone -whispering campaign

• Keeping secrets away from a so-called friend

Verbal Bullying Examples:

• Teasing people in a mean way, or cussing someone

• Name Calling

• Mean comments (about clothing, looks, body, anything else)

• Tormenting

• Harassing

• Profanity

Cyber Bullying Examples:

• Mean-spirited e-mail

• Inappropriate or mean-spirited posts to blogs or other websites

• Using someone else's name to spread rumors or lies

• Mean-spirited cell phone communications (text, picture, video, calls)

Recognizing A Pattern:

Bullying is a form of abuse. It is comprised of repeated acts over time that involves a real or perceived imbalance of power with the more powerful individual or group abusing those who are less powerful. The power imbalance may be social power and/or physical power. Forms of bullying include but are not limited to physical, emotional, verbal, electronic (cyber), and sexual.

Employment of Minors

In accordance with the Louisiana Minor Labor Law (Title 23, Chapter 3 of Revised Statutes of 1950, as Amended) the Vernon Parish School System works cooperatively with the Louisiana Department of Labor and local businesses to issue work permits for individuals under the age of 18 residing in Vernon Parish. The Intention to Employ Minor Form can be obtained through local businesses, the Child Welfare and Attendance Office, and available for download at the bottom of this page.

After you complete the Work Permit Form with your prospective employer, you should bring the form to Mrs. Zenobia Wilson at the Vernon Parish School Board Office to get your employment certificate.  Information and a link to the work permit are below.  

Vernon Parish

Homebound Instructional Program

“Extending Education Beyond the Classroom”

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Hospital/Homebound instructional program?

Hospital/Homebound is an instructional program provided to regular or special education students who are unable to attend school because of a medical condition.  Students receive instruction in the hospital or home environment to help them keep up with their coursework while absent from school for a qualifying medical illness.

Are Homebound and Home Study the same instructional program?

No, Homebound services are provided in the hospital or home environment by teachers assigned through the local education agency.  Home Study students also referred to as “Home School students”, receive instruction from their parents in the home environment.

Who is eligible?

Public school students certified by their attending physician as having a medical condition that requires the student to be away from school for a period longer than ten consecutive school days are eligible.

Where do the parents apply?

Parents may apply at the student’s school or at the local school board office.

Who will teach the child?

Students should be taught by a properly certified teacher assigned by the local education agency, especially if services will be needed for a period longer than twenty school days.

Can my child receive instruction in classes beyond English, math, science, and social studies?

Consideration shall be given to the individual need for services beyond the core academic subjects for students with disabilities.

How can I get assistance?

You can contact

Mr. Raymond Jones

Director of Child Welfare and Attendance

(337) 239-3401 

Notice of Hospital-Homebound Eligility

Homebound Principal Letter

Hospital-Homebound Regular Ed Referal

Hospital-Homebound Referal SPED

Homebound Instruction Termination Form

Attendance Requirement (La RS 17:221)

Louisiana Law requires students to attend school for a certain number of days to be promoted to the next grade and earn credit for a course.  Under the law, students must attend school from age 7-18 or until they graduate from high school. Students are required to attend school regularly and must attend at least 167 days to earn credit and be eligible for promotion to the next grade.

When a student misses school, their absence falls under four categories:

• Exempted and Excused:  The student is allowed to make up the missed work and the absence is not counted against the attendance requirement.  Examples are extended illness documented by a doctor or to celebrate religious holidays. There is no limit to these absences.

• Non-exempted and Excused:  The student is allowed to make up the missed work but the absence is counted against the attendance requirement. An example is personal or family illness documented by a parent’s note.  The number of non-exempt and excused absences is based on the number of school days offered. Schools are required to offer 177 days of school, which means a student can be absent ten days.  If more school days are offered, then the number of absences also increases.

• Unexcused:  The student is not allowed to make up the missed work and the absence is counted against the attendance requirement.  An example is skipping school.

• Suspensions:  The student is allowed to make up the missed work but the absence is counted against the attendance requirement.

Tardiness is not counted against the attendance requirement.  School districts may have their own policy on tardiness.

Students must be in attendance at least 167 days and pass the course or grade to earn credit.  Some school districts offer makeup classes that allow students to make up missed instructional time.

If a student has an excessive number of non-exempted absences, parents, and legal guardians may make a formal appeal in accordance with the due process procedures established by the local school district or independent charter school.  If a school district grants a waiver of the attendance requirement because of extenuating circumstances, students are eligible to make up missed work, receive grades and earn credit as long as they complete the missed work and pass the course.

Under the Child Performer Trust Act, employers must provide tutors to students who are working for them in an artistic setting, such as an actor in a play or movie.  If a student will be absent for more than one day within a month, the law requires the employer to provide a certified teacher on the second day of employment to provide three hours of instruction daily.  If multiple students are hired, employers must provide one certified teacher for every ten students.

Vernon Parish Attendance

Enforcement Procedures

1. Students accumulating more than 5 days of unexcused or excused absences in a semester will receive non-attendance F's on progress reports and report cards.  (See definitions)

2. Medically excused absences and absences due to extenuating circumstances are not included in the accumulation of more than 5 days absence per semester.  (See definitions)

3. Any documentation for excused absences or extenuating circumstances must be submitted within 5 school days of return to school or the absences will be unexcused.

4. Students will be allowed to make up any work missed due to temporarily excused absences, fully excused absence and extenuating circumstances.

5. Students exceeding 5 days of absences per semester due to unexcused or excused absences will have opportunities to make up the excessive days missed.  (Saturday School/Attendance – 11 opportunities throughout the school year) After school is allowed – 4 hours equal 1 day

6. All excessive unexcused or excused absences must be made up before a student will receive earned grades.

7. Any student who has failed to make up excessive absences before the end of school will have an opportunity to do so in summer school.  (There will be a cost associated with summer school - $150.00 or $15.00 per day up to $150.00 maximum)

Definitions

1. Excused Absences – student presents a note from parents with an excusable reason (sick, family, emergency, car trouble, etc.). The student can make up any missed school work and receive credit for the work, but the day of absence counts against the number of days required for school attendance.

2. Medical Absences – student has a note or excuse from a medical doctor or dentist for the day or days of absence from school.  These excused days do not count against the student’s days required for school attendance. The student may make up any work missed and will receive credit for any makeup work.

3. Unexcused Absences – either the student did not present a written excuse for the absence or the written excuse was not a valid excusable reason for being absent.

4. Extenuating Circumstances – absences resulting from extenuating circumstances can be appealed to a district level or school level attendance worker who has the authority to declare the absence as an “extenuating circumstance”.  In the state of Louisiana, only a Child Welfare and Attendance Supervisor or Director of Child Welfare and Attendance may declare the absence an “extenuating circumstance”. When the appeal is approved for “extenuating circumstances”, the day of absence is totally excused, all work may be made up, and the day of absence does not count against the required number of days for school attendance.

The only exception to the attendance regulation shall be enumerated extenuating circumstances that are verified by the Director of Child Welfare and Attendance.

1. Extended personal physical or emotional illness.  Each LEA shall adopt policies regarding the requirement of a certificate from a physician or nurse practitioner licensed in the state in substantiation of the absence;

2. Extended hospital stay as verified by a physician or dentist;

3. Extended recuperation from an accident as verified by a physician, dentist or nurse practitioner;

4. Extended contagious disease within a family as verified by a physician or dentist; or

5. Observance of special and recognized holidays of the student’s own faith.

For any other extenuating circumstances, the student’s parents or legal guardian must make a formal appeal in accordance with the due process procedures established by the LEA.

The only other exception to the attendance regulations shall be other absences that are verified by the principal or his/her designee as stated below:

1. Prior school system-approved travel for education.

2. Death in the family (not to exceed one week); or

3. Natural catastrophe and/or disaster.

Perfect Attendance – Student Handbook

    100% of every day not including school trips

Excellent Attendance – 3 days or less or any combination of hours equal to 3 or less school days.

Truancy

The law recognizes the importance of education and places a duty upon parents/guardians to assure that their child is attending school on a regular basis.  The law places the responsibility of enforcing truancy laws upon the Juvenile Court. 

Children ages seven through eighteen, unless the child graduates from high school prior to his/her eighteenth birthday, are required by law to attend school with few exceptions.  Students of any age who legally enroll in the Vernon Parish School System are subject to all federal, state, and parish policies and laws regarding attendance.   

A student is considered to be in attendance when he/she is physically present at a school site or is participating in an authorized school activity and is under the supervision of authorized personnel.  

A child is considered habitually absent or habitually tardy after the fifth unexcused absence or tardy.  A habitually truant child can be found delinquent and subject to Truancy Court intervention. 

The law also holds parents/guardians accountable for their child's school attendance, and the Truancy Court may order sanctions against the parents/guardians who fail to send their child to school.  Court orders may include student and/or parent counseling, required school bus ridership, surrendering of driver’s license, or driving permits, or hunting/fishing license, Saturday community service, and court fees.  In cases of non-compliance, continued absences or occurrences of being tardy, or when interventions fail to correct the problem, violations may be referred to formal court where additional penalties may be imposed upon the parent/legal guardian and/or student.

 It is your responsibility to make your child's school attendance a priority.  The goal is to get your child back into a learning environment that will enhance his/her chances for future success.  Every instructional minute counts in the educational development of a student!!!  

The following file is Louisiana Revised Statute 17:221 in regards to school attendance; compulsory ages; duty of parents; excessive absences; consent to withdraw; condition for driving privileges. 

• RS17.221

The following file is Louisiana Revised Statute 17:233 in regards to cases of habitual absence or tardiness referred to juvenile or family court; denial or suspension of driving privileges. 

• RS17.233