Senate Bill 45 requiring public schools to adopt policies by the end of the year regarding cameras to be installed in Louisiana special education classrooms advances from House Education. Sandra Guichard, a mother of two special needs children said she placed a recorder on her daughter when she suspected she was being abused at school.
“We heard everything they were doing, they were horrible to her, they put her down, they were mean to her all day. I think they were force-feeding her, for months she would hold her hand over her face,” said Guichard.
The bill requires policies to be in place by December 31, 2022, for about 9,000 once funds are available. The cameras will cost an estimated $6 million.
Jennifer Carignan, President of Louisiana Save Our Schools said she’s talked with several parents of special needs children and heard horror stories of abuse in the classroom. She begged lawmakers to find funding and to hold schools accountable for installing cameras in the classroom.
“We have to do something, these are children who do not have the ability to communicate when they are being harmed, and we have the ability to help them,” said Carignan.
Jody Rollins, whose son is nonverbal with severe autism, implored lawmakers to remove any obstacles school districts have to install cameras. She said it’s as if education is lawless and they are not forced to follow policies set forth by lawmakers.
“This is more of an accountability law, this isn’t just about a camera, and I know y a lot of you probably don’t know what it feels like to be powerless, but I can tell you it’s not a good feeling,” said Rollins.
The bill advances to the House floor for final passage.
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