Phased Reopening Plan Approved

Posted Date: 07/09/2020

Ouachita Parish Schools Release Phased Plan for 2020-2021 School Year

Ouachita Parish School System released Thursday a detailed Reopening Plan for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year.  The plan addresses the three phases which could be enacted by Governor Jon Bel Edwards during the pandemic. System leaders sought input from parents as well as community and employees when formulating what each phase of education could entail. The number one priority for everyone involved is student and employee safety. 

Under the three plans, schools will adhere to guidelines set forth by the Louisiana Department of Education, as well as following recommended protocols from CDC and DHH.  “At no time do we want our employees or our students to feel unsafe in our schools,” said Dr. Don Coker.  “While we all face these new challenges together, it is our hope that well-defined plans and procedures will ensure parents are more at ease with sending their children back to class so that we can resume educating our students.”

The system’s plan addresses everything from transportation capacity on school buses to group sizes and athletics.  There are procedures outlined for distance learning in middle and high school, and a virtual instruction option for PreK-12 students whose parents are not comfortable with sending their children to school under the current phase. A copy of the plan can be found on the districts website under Parents & Students / COVID-19 Information or click here.