FILE: JDA
CORPORAL PUNISHMENT
Beginning at the start of the 2022-23 school year, corporal punishment will no longer be allowable in Rapides Parish Schools.
DEFINITION
Corporal punishment - using physical force to discipline a student, with or without an object. Corporal punishment includes hitting, paddling, striking, spanking, slapping, or any other physical force that causes pain or physical discomfort.
Corporal punishment does not include:
The use of reasonable and necessary physical restraint of a student to protect the student, or others, from bodily harm or to obtain possession of a weapon or other dangerous object from a student.
The use of seclusion and restraint as provided in La. Ref. Stat. Ann. §17:416.21
IMPERMISSIBLE CORPORAL PUNISHMENT
Any form of corporal punishment administered as outlined hereinabove shall be deemed and defined to be impermissible corporal punishment. Any accusations involving employees using impermissible corporal punishment shall be promptly investigated.
In instances where allegations of abuse of a student are reported against an employee, principal or other school official, through the administering of impermissible corporal punishment or any other moral offense, the School Board shall promptly investigate the action. Such investigation shall proceed in accordance with the following:
A complaint against an employee alleging that the staff member has committed an act of child abuse by the administering of impermissible corporal punishment shall be submitted in writing to the Superintendent.
Once the complaint has been submitted to the Superintendent, the Superintendent shall appoint an investigating team to examine the allegations. The investigating team shall consist of at least two (2) employees, none of which shall work in the same school or department as the person accused of the offense, with at least one (1) member being from the central office, who shall lead the investigation.
The leader of the investigation team shall immediately schedule a conference with the alleged abuser to assess the validity of the report. Other staff members or students may be interviewed if it is deemed essential to the investigation.
At the conclusion of the investigation, the investigation team shall file a written report of the findings with the Superintendent. The report may include disciplinary action to be considered against the alleged abuser if the allegations can be substantiated.
Once the Superintendent receives the investigation team's report, he/she shall review the findings in the report and determine if further action is necessary. If he/she determines that further action is indeed necessary, he/she shall report his/her findings to the School Board along with his/her recommendations for the School Board to consider. The School Board shall review the findings and determine any final action to be taken.
Revised: September, 2017
Revised: May 3, 2022
Ref: U.S. Constitution, Amend. XIII
U.S. Constitution, Amend. XIV, Sec. 1
La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81.6, 17:223, 17:235.1, 17:416, 17:416.1
Baker v. Owen, 96 S. Ct. 210 affirming 395 F. Supp. 294 (M.D.N.C., 1975)
Ingraham v. Wright, 97 S. Ct. 1401, (1977)
Board minutes, 5-3-22
Rapides Parish School Board