St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz is allowing his employees to bring their children to work citing the virtual school planned for the St. Landry Parish school system.
“I feel compelled to assist and do my part as a parish official to begin a voluntary program called, Children And Parents Education Relief System (CAPERS). If our employees were to hire in-home care for their children while attending virtual schooling, that will cause a great financial burden, and also a high likelihood of well trained and experienced sheriff’s employees resigning their jobs to stay home and tend to the needs of their child/children,” he stated.
Employees with school-age children grades K-9 will be allowed to bring those children to their workplace where they will be permitted to supervise and assist their children with school assignments while also doing their required duties as a sheriff employee, he stated.
No one will neglect their primary duties as a public employee while they are at work from 8 a.m. through 4:30 p.m., he stated.
The children will have access to recess (play time) at the facility, and have a place for lunch breaks at the workplace, he stated. The sheriff will not provide school lunches to the children, but will be able to assist the School Board with the delivery of the children’s school lunches. Social distancing and CDC guidelines will be followed.
The students will be provided with internet access, he stated.
“The C.A.P.E.R.S. program for our employees will give the children an opportunity to, not only get their vital education, but will do so in a safe and nurturing environment. Additionally, the children will be able to interact with male and female law-enforcement officers during the course of the program, when time allows.
“I hope the idea created here at the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office can be a model that other private and governmental organizations can implement,” Guidroz said.