By Chris Rosa

In the past, if a School Board employee says a foul word in front of another employee, student, parent or visitor, nothing could be done to the employee because the School Board did not have a policy in place. After Thursday night, the School Board is expected to adopt a new Employee Language policy.

The Education Committee adopted the policy at Monday night’s committee meeting. The policy states that no School Board employee can use any obscene, profane, vulgar, lewd, lascivious and indecent language in the presence of another employee, student, parent or visitor.

The Vermilion Parish School Board is scheduled to adopt a new policy at Thursday night’s meeting.

The School Board is not expected to adopt a certain penalty but will base the penalty on individual situations.

School Board attorney Woody Woodruff said certain words used may have a harsher penalty than others. Other words spoken to students may result in another penalty, he added.

Woodruff said it will all depend on who used the language, where was it said and if the person has been warned before.

School Board member Charles Campbell said how the School Board will define foul language. He said there are words that teachers use that may be foul words to some and not to others.

The Board members wanted to know if coaches will be held accountable as teachers.

School Board member Ricky LeBouef said some players will be scared to say that a coach said foul language at practice or during a game.

“We may have issues where the players are not going to tell us because the coaches will not play them,” said LeBouef.

School Superintendent Randy Schexnayder said many athletes will not report a coach cursing because they like the coach.

“That does not make it right,” said Campbell.

Schexnayder said if it is reported and no witnesses come forward, something still needs to be done.

Jason Roy, a teacher at Dozier Elementary who is president for the parish’s Vermilion Association of Educators, had a question about coaches.

“Coaches use vulgar language and yell at the kids,” Roy said. “I just want to make sure that school teachers in the classrooms will be dealt with as our coaches.”

He is worried that a coach cursing may be tolerated more than a teacher in the classroom. Roy said for years coache’s cursing has been overlooked.

“To me it is equal, whether they are coaches or in the classroom,” Campbell said. “They are all teachers.”