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Legislative audit reveals lack of special education oversight in La.

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Legislative audit reveals lack of special education oversight in La.


BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – The Louisiana Legislative Auditor released a report on December 16 focused on the seclusion, restraint, and abuse of special education students in public schools. This is the third audit from the LLA in the last two years as it has looked into the complaint process and monitoring of special education services in previous reports.

This stems from a nationwide report released in 2023 by the U.S. Department of Education’s office for civil rights. That report found that students in special education classes make up 14% of the total K-12 enrollment, but account for 81% of physically restrained students, and 75% of students secluded.

According to Gina Brown, the audit manager for the Louisiana Legislative Auditor, nobody is monitoring the use of seclusion and restraint across the public school systems in Louisiana.

“It’s not required anywhere to be monitored and so it’s not being monitored. LDOE it is our opinion that LDOE does have the authority to monitor this,” Brown says.

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The Louisiana Department of Education responded to the audit, saying it “disagrees with the LLA’s contention that LDOE has the necessary authority to monitor how school systems use seclusion and restraint.”

Brown says in Louisiana, school systems are required to report the number of incidents where students are physically restrained or secluded. She says the data is collected but not really used for anything.

“We found after going into field work and interviewing teachers and talking to those different school districts, we found a discrepancy between what was being reported to the department. Compared to the number of instances that were actually happening at the school,” Brown says.

Back in 2022, the Louisiana Legislature approved $8.8 million for the department of education to give to schools to install cameras in special education classrooms. The funding went into effect in 2023, but so far only $2.2 million has been spent. Brown says that is most likely because parents are unaware that they have to actually request cameras be put into those classrooms for the school to then require it.

“If parents were more informed that they can request this form, they can request a camera, they may be more likely. We might see more of this funding being used,” Brown says.

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According to Ted Beasley, the communications director for the Louisiana Department of Education, there have been a total of 181 requests for cameras and 988 cameras installed. Some schools did it proactively.

Another potential problem the audit highlights is the requirements around certifications for teachers. Public school teachers are required to be certified, but they are not required to be certified in charter schools. Brown also says Louisiana is the only state with no code of ethics out of the 10 states they surveyed. Louisiana also does not have a way to sanction the licenses of teachers accused of mistreating students but not convicted of a crime.

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'Coming Home': LSU's Textile & Costume Museum honors Louisiana-born fashion legend – Reveille

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'Coming Home': LSU's Textile & Costume Museum honors Louisiana-born fashion legend – Reveille


When one thinks about luxury fashion, Louisiana might not be the first place that comes to mind. An LSU museum is showcasing how a fashion designer from Louisiana became an American fashion legend.
The LSU Textile & Costume Museum is currently exhibiting fashion designer Geoffrey Beene’s award-winning work. As visitors shuffle through the museum, there are four decades of craftsmanship and art waiting to meet them. The walls of the museum display information about Beene with his sketches, designs and photos.
“Beene eschewed fashion as a trend and instead approached dressing as an artful expression and perhaps even a divine representation of female beauty,” the exhibit reads.
Hailing from Louisiana and trained in Paris, the exhibit shares Beene’s story.
“Mr. Beene was originally from Hainesville, Louisiana, which is a tiny, one stoplight town in the northern part of the state,” said Michael E. Mamp, the museum’s director and curator. “And he went on to be one of the most successful American fashion designers of all time.”

Courtesy of the LSU Textile and Costume Museum

The exhibit touches on every aspect of Beene’s career, from his affinity for polka dots to his use of florals, lace, line and shape. In one part of the exhibit, Beene’s southern heritage is spotlighted through the dresses and ensembles he designed.
All of the garments in the exhibit were donated to the LSU Textile & Costume Museum by Dr. Sylvia R. Karasu, a fan and long-time collector of Beene’s work. She donated 254 pieces with the hope that some of Beene’s work would be preserved in his home state.
Mamp discussed how museum visitors should look at Beene’s unique work, saying they “… have to look closely at the details because he was so focused on excellent craftsmanship, beautiful fabrications, finishing garments in a way that is really more akin to couture versus manufactured ready to wear.”
“He wasn’t interested in necessarily being fashioned forward,” Mamp said, “but just wanted to make beautiful, timeless clothes that people could wear over and over again.”
Mamp explained Beene’s legacy came from how well he constructed his clothes, saying the designer took “high end” approaches to fashion.
“Beautiful silk linings, attached petticoats underneath the skirt,” Mamp said. “Things that outwardly people wouldn’t see, but that make wearing the garment special for the person who puts it on.”

Courtesy of the LSU Textile and Costume Museum

Mamp hopes students leave the museum understanding Beene’s dedication to creating fashionable pieces without compromising quality.
“Beene’s ability to be successful, his commitment and dedication to making beautiful clothes. He never really compromised his standards in that regard,” Mamp said. “It is a testament, I think, to students about what one can achieve if they want it badly enough, and if they work hard enough at it.”
“Coming Home: Geoffrey Beene” will close Jan. 24. The Textile & Costume Museum keeps hundreds of textile and fashion artifacts, preserving and creating space for centuries of human art and clothing. Their next exhibit, “Color Me Fashion,” will open on March 16. Admission to the museum is free.



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Arch Manning’s High School Coach Is Moving From Louisiana to Georgia

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Arch Manning’s High School Coach Is Moving From Louisiana to Georgia


A new coach hiring in the state of Georgia has officially taken place. Nelson Stewart from Newman High School in New Orleans is on the move and will be the new head coach at Westminster High School in the Peach State.

Stewart was Newman’s head coach for 19 seasons, winning a total of 162 wins in his time there.

He is mostly known by football fans as the high school head coach of Arch Manning, the nephew of NFL legends Peyton and Eli Manning, and currently a quarterback at the University of Texas. Stewart’s connection to the Mannings runs even deeper as was a high school teammate of Peyton. He has also coached standout wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr who is known mostly for his time in New York with the Giants and his fantastic one-handed catch.

Westminster was in need of a new coach following a below .500 season and the retirement of Gerry Romberg after his 33rd season coaching with the Class 4A team. Westminster finished the 2024 season at 5-6. With the talent of Stewart, one would believe that the record could improve even from the first season.

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Louisiana State Police issues emergency exemption for motor carriers

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Louisiana State Police issues emergency exemption for motor carriers


MONROE, La. (KNOE) – Louisiana State Police issued a temporary emergency exemption from certain federal motor carrier safety regulations ahead of severe winter weather.

The exemption, effective 12:01 a.m. Jan. 20 to 11:59 p.m. Feb. 2, 2025, applies to motor carriers assisting with disaster relief, including power grid repairs and the delivery of essential goods like fuel and groceries.

Motor carriers under an Out-of-Service Order are not eligible for the exemption.

The public is urged to stay informed on weather and travel conditions through 511la.org and LSP’s social media. In the event of ice on bridges, LSP will coordinate with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and local law enforcement.

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For assistance or to report hazardous conditions, call *LSP (*577).



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