Free COVID-19 testing at sites sponsored by the federal government will end next week. Testing is available at Cajun Field at the University of Louisiana, the Lake Charles Civic Center and the Rapides Parish Exhibition Center in Alexandria. These sites are supported locally by the Louisiana National Guard and the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH).
Eunice High School held its 2020-21 school year registration on campus on Monday through Wednesday. Masks were worn by students, parents and faculty members. The front door entrance at Eunice High had a temperature check. Principal Mitch Fontenot said, “It appears that everything, registration, is going smoothly. Students are following the registration process.” Eunice High English IV teacher Suzanne Synborski, left, talks with Abram Ablang, a senior. In back of Synborski is Gabriel Bear, a senior at Eunice High. (Photo by Myra Miller)
St. Landry Parish public schools will open on Sept. 8 as the school system adjusts to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The opening date was approved by a unanimous vote during a special School Board meeting Monday.
Schools originally were scheduled to open on Aug. 12.
In July, the Board voted unanimously to open school virtually on Aug. 20 to shield students and employees from the virus surging in the state.
Monday’s meeting was held over Zoom with a maximum audience of 300. About 40 minutes of the three hour meeting included a reading of comments from the public.
The Louisiana Department of Education is partnering with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (GOHSEP) and parish emergency management directors to ensure students and educators have the personal protective equipment (PPE) they need to begin the new school year. GOHSEP is providing school systems, non-public schools and early childhood centers with PPE, including a combined one million masks.
Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Tuesday that he will extend his Phase Two order, including the statewide mask mandate, closure of bars to on-site consumption and crowd size limits of no more than 50 people for at least another 21 days.
The current order expires on Friday. Edwards will sign a new order before the end of the week that extends this order through Aug. 28.
Restoration work at Eunice Elementary has definitely been the project that cannot catch a break.
The latest culprit to delay the completion of work is the coronavirus.
Claudia Blanchard, school system director of operations, at a St. Landry Parish School Board Buildings, Lands and Sites Committee Zoom meeting on Monday, said workers had to stop due to the virus.
“Last month I was very optimistic and positive that our projects were moving along very well. This month is not so positive,” she said.
465 Aymond St.
Eunice, LA 70535
Phone: 337-457-3061
Fax: 337-457-3122