Act 393 of the 2023 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature amended Louisiana law [La.R.S. 42:14(E)] to allow any member of the public with a disability recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), or a designated caregiver of such a person, to participate in the meetings of public bodies, including the Ouachita parish School System (OPSB), via teleconference or videoconference if the person requests that accommodation prior to the meeting and if the person complies with the rules, regulations, and procedures adopted by the OPSB for such participation.

Louisiana law and OPSB Policy permit a member of the public to speak at its meetings before the School Board acts on any item on its agenda. Such public participation is limited to three(3) minutes per speaker, and comments must be directed to agenda items. Board agendas are posted on its website at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to its meetings. Further information about public comments at Board Meetings may be found at Ouachita Parish CAPS.

Please complete and submit this form if you are a person with a disability recognized by the ADA, or you are a caregiver of a person with a disability recognized by the ADA, and you wish to participate remotely in the public portion of a Board Meeting to provide public comment. To make appropriate arrangements for your electronic participation, the OPSB must receive your request to do so at least five (5) working hours prior to the beginning of the meeting at which you would like to speak. (i.e., if the Board Meeting is on Tuesday at NOON, your request must be made before 3pm on Monday.) If such request is complete and timely received, you will have the same right to participate in Board Meetings as is provided to persons in physical attendance at same.