Dear Kerner Elementary School Family, 

I have often stated that the key to our recovery efforts would be continuous communication. With this in mind, the following message is part of the monthly communication update that will be sent from me to you on where we are in the recovery process at your school.

We are continuing to condition and ready the campus to ensure we can facilitate the safest environment for teaching and learning. The architect finalized the plans for permanent repairs, and the project is prepared to be placed out for bid. After 30 days of public bid, the board will approve the lowest bid and permanent repairs will begin. 

While progress is certainly being made, I can not thank you enough for your patience and flexibility. Our school family is adapting today, so that tomorrow, our kids can learn on a campus that is less vulnerable to the threat of future hurricanes. The next update will be provided on Monday, June 6, and remember to visit jpschools.org/LafitteReturn for your school’s hurricane recovery updates. 

Dr. James Gray 

Kerner Elementary Family,

We wanted to provide you with an update on the Kerner campus. Kerner Elementary employees and students are still scheduled to return to their Lafitte campus in winter 2022. The design and bid process is ongoing and we are continuing to make progress on readying Kerner’s campus for return. These necessary steps will help as we rebuild Kerner's campus for the long haul.

We will be launching an online hub with resources and the latest information about our Kerner progress and will share more information soon.

Thank you for your continuous support. While I know the road to recovery has been longer for Lafitte than other areas in the parish, we are focused on supporting long term recovery efforts for all our children. The end result will be a stronger, more resilient Kerner community.

Dr. James Gray

Kerner Elementary Family,

We hosted a town hall tonight in Lafitte to update employees, families, and the community on progress to safely bring back our two Lafitte campuses. I know everyone was not able to attend, so I am writing to update you on what was shared.

Kerner Elementary employees and students will begin the 2022-23 school year in their current shared campus at Truman School before returning to the current Kerner campus later in the school year. Due to the amount of time it takes to receive supplies and equipment, construction on Kerner Elementary is scheduled to start this summer and complete late fall. I asked the architects and contractors to attend tonight’s town hall and explain the scope of their work. Here is some of the information they shared. The scope of this project includes:

• Replacing all HVAC equipment, including the chillers
• Elevating this equipment
• Installing flood barriers to mitigate future flooding damage
• Replacing elevator
• Replacing all electrical outlets
• Repairing damaged flooring, walls, & ceilings
• Replacing furniture & kitchen equipment
• Replacing exterior upper metal panels surrounding buildings

I know you want to be back on your home campus, especially to start the new school year. Due to the extensive flooding and damage caused by Hurricane Ida, the thorough process we’re following to align with government regulations, and national supply chain issues, we cannot ensure your home campus will be safe for employees and children by August. 

While there are a number of factors beyond our control in the recovery process, one area we can control is regular and transparent communication. Continuous communication with our Lafitte community remains a priority. In addition to our town halls and regular text and email updates, we will launch an online hub with resources and the latest information about our progress building back stronger in Lafitte. We will share more information about this web page in the coming weeks. 

We are rebuilding Kerner Elementary and Fisher Middle-High stronger and for the long haul. These campuses are more than just a place for children to learn. They are an integral part of the Lafitte community. Doing things the right way now — even if it means waiting a little longer — helps ensure these campuses continue to serve Lafitte children for generations to come.

Dr. James Gray 

Kerner Elementary and Fisher Middle-High Family,

The Kerner Elementary and Fisher Middle-High campuses are more than just a place for children to learn. They are an integral part of the Lafitte community. 

In an effort to continue an open dialogue with you, I, along with School Board Member Tiffany Higgins-Kuhn, invite you to attend a town hall meeting. This meeting will be an opportunity to engage with us in person and to ask any additional clarifying questions. The Lafitte town hall meeting will take place Tuesday, March 29 at 6 p.m. at the Jean Lafitte Auditorium, located at 4953 City Park Street. It is my sincere hope that you can attend.

Together, I know we will keep moving forward with meeting the needs of both your child and our community. We will continue to show up for our students and one another. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding. 

Dr. James Gray

Kerner Elementary and Fisher Middle-High Families,

It’s been almost five months since Hurricane Ida made landfall, and the impact of this historic storm is still felt by Jefferson Parish families. This is especially true for you, as the storm made your school buildings unsafe for immediate return. The Kerner Elementary and Fisher Middle-High campuses are more than just a place for children to learn. They are part of the social fabric. That’s why we are focused on ensuring these repairs can help those institutions sustain for the long haul. 

I’m grateful for your patience and partnership throughout this process. We’ve promised an open line of communication, and I’m writing to announce an upcoming opportunity to engage with us in person. We’ll be hosting a town hall in the next month and will be in touch soon with a date, time, and location. Similar to the town halls we hosted in the fall, you will hear from our team leading this project and can ask questions and share concerns important to you and your child. 

Although we have communicated updates, we think an in-person meeting to ask additional clarifying questions will be beneficial. I hope you can join us, and we will be in touch soon with more details about the town hall.

Dr. James Gray

Dear Leo Kerner School Family, 

I hope this message finds you well and that your recoveries are coming along. The Lafitte community has made great progress, and with such substantial progress made, I would like to provide an update on Leo Kerner Elementary and where we are in the recovery process. 

Leo Kerner Elementary currently has contractors on-site providing ice blasting services, which entails removing two feet of paint from the bottom of all interior walls. This procedure dries cinder block walls to the manufacturer’s recommendation of humidity levels. This process is near completion, and the school is expected to be completely dried by the end of the month.

After air dryers are removed, an operation will begin that turns on all air conditioning systems, and our operations team will identify air conditioning dryers that are in need of repairs. Once all air conditioning systems are online, permanent repairs will begin.  

Although recovery efforts are coming along, there is still a great deal of work that lies ahead regarding replacements and repairs. In addition to all furniture and promethean boards that will need to be replaced, all built-in cabinets, cafeteria equipment and flooring on the first floor will require replacements as well. Finishing touches will include painting all classrooms, offices, and hallways. 

These repairs will require the expertise of an architect as a next step, of whom our board voted to do repairs at our last School Board meeting.This process requires a very coordinated effort amongst various departments, but I am confident that these repairs will be seen through successfully, as the recovery process has been efficient thus far. 

At this time, we anticipate an opening at the start of the next school year at the current Kerner Elementary campus, which results in Leo Kerner students finishing their school year at Truman School. However, as we all know, hurricane recovery has its challenges, and fluctuating circumstances can cause well-organized plans to change. I recognize that returning to Leo Kerner at the start of the new school year may not be the most hoped-for outcome. However, I encourage you to continue to look after one another as we move forward together as it is that sense of unity that has kept us moving forward together. 

We will continue to provide updates as progress is made, as we want to ensure that you are kept informed of Leo Kerner Elementary, a vital part of the Lafitte community. 

Dr. James Gray 

Dear Leo Kerner Elementary Family, 

As you all have taken time to become acclimated with the recent adjustments made, I would like to provide an update on the status of your school campus. 

At this time, Leo Kerner Elementary remains inaccessible for in person learning, but we continue  to work with local officials and representatives to determine the long-term solution to Kerner's campus. Leo Kerner Elementary students, faculty, and staff will continue to share a campus with Truman School. As previously mentioned, I recognize that efforts to maintain structure and stability are imperative for our children's growth and learning, and this plan allows us to continue to support that initiative. While I recognize the changes you’ve made have been an adjustment, I’m proud of the steps taken by our school community to overcome what has undoubtedly been an adverse set of circumstances. 

I have often said that maintaining an open dialogue with you is key to our restoration and recovery efforts, and I will continue to provide updates on any notable progress or changes made. 

The heartfelt stories shared showing how you all have looked after one another is a true depiction of our core values. Thank you for your patience and partnership as we move forward together to meet the needs of both our students and our community. Please continue to look after one another, as it is this attitude that has kept our district moving forward together. 

Dr. James Gray

Dear Kerner Elementary Families/Faculty and Staff,

With all JP schools soon to be reopened, this will be my final weekly Hurricane Ida update. I hope these updates have been both informative and helpful. Please continue to stay connected to our regular school and district communications channels for new announcements and information. 

While I know the road to recovery may be longer for Lafitte than other areas in Jefferson Parish, it’s important to remember that the short term adjustments being made are supporting long term recovery efforts. The end result will be a stronger, more resilient community. As we move forward, updates will be provided as new information becomes available about the long-term status of Kerner’s campus. Thank you for your efforts in providing the education our children deserve, and for continuing to show up for our children and one another. 

Dr. James Gray

Dear Kerner Families,

We had the opportunity to meet with many of you during our town hall meeting this past Saturday. We had a productive, in-depth discussion regarding a clear path forward to resume in-person teaching and learning. 

It is always a pleasure spending time in Lafitte and engaging in open discussions with you and your families. As I stated during the meeting, “you all not only persevere, but take care of each other,” and that strong sense of community was certainly felt in the room. 

In an effort to maintain an open dialogue, I wanted to reach out and follow up with you. In reference to a reopening date, please note that we are progressing towards identifying a definitive start date. This depends on a number of factors, and I want to be certain of this date before sharing with you. This will allow for a smooth and efficient start. In addition, I have often mentioned that maintaining an opening dialogue is key during such an uncertain time. With this in mind, please note that an update will be  weekly to keep you informed. This weekly communication will allow for a smooth and efficient start that we all want for our children. 

Please continue to persevere, remain resilient, and look after one another. 

Dr. James Gray

Dear Kerner Elementary Families,

Thank you for your patience and flexibility as we finalize reopening plans. As I’ve shared previously, we want to be certain of our timeline prior to making it public. Our word to you matters, especially when you are dealing with so much uncertainty as you recover from Hurricane Ida. 

Kerner Elementary students will return to school at the Truman School campus on Tuesday, October 5. Kerner Elementary teachers will report to the Truman School campus Thursday, September 30. This timeline allows us to finalize the logistical and operational elements that will support Kerner Elementary students, employees, and families from their designated section of the Truman School campus. The timeline also allows Truman School students, employees, and families to adjust to shifts they are making in order to welcome Kerner Elementary. 

This temporary plan is based on the long-term solution for Kerner’s campus. We will continue to keep you updated throughout this process. Please continue to persevere, remain resilient, and look after one another. 

Dr. James Gray

Dear Leo Kerner Elementary Family, 

I hope this message finds you well as you continue to make efforts towards your recovery.  
 
This morning we hosted a town hall meeting in Lafitte to help establish a clear path forward to resume in-person teaching and learning. This meeting was an opportunity to discuss our plan, share details, and answer any questions that you may have had face-to-face. As promised, I assured you that I would share any information discussed with all Kerner employees and families who were unable to attend. 
 
Condition of Kerner Campus
Hurricane Ida’s catastrophic flood waters reached record levels at Kerner Elementary. For the first time, flood waters rose to electrical outlets and wiring. This is the primary reason why the building is inaccessible and currently not safe for learning, as electrical wires will need to be entirely reworked. As always, the safety of our students, faculty and staff is pertinent, and it is for that reason why it is not safe to reopen at this time.
 
Non-Negotiables for Lafitte Employees and Families
First, let me put your mind at ease by addressing what are likely your primary concerns. We recognize that this is an uncertain time, and there are many moving variables in our lives. It is therefore critical that we create a sense of stability and structure, particularly within a learning environment. With this in mind, we have a few non-negotiables we used when creating this plan:

• We arranged for siblings to attend the same school regardless of their grades in PK-5.
• Students will maintain their same classmates, teachers, support staff and administrators.
• In-person learning will proceed, as we continuously recognize that this is the most effective way to provide the quality education our children deserve.
• Health and safety will be prioritized. As we continue to navigate this pandemic, we want to ensure all plans to resume in-person learning allow for continued implementation of our COVID-19 mitigation efforts. The health and wellbeing of our students, employees, faculty and staff is our top priority, and our Start Strong Jefferson guidelines will remain in place.
• Transportation will continue to be provided.

A Clear Path to Learning
From a logistics standpoint, an ideal place for learning during these complex circumstances should allow enough space to service the needs of all our students and allow for implementation of our health and safety protocols. With that in mind, we developed the following plan:

• Kerner Elementary will operate its own school using a shared campus with Harry S. Truman School.
• This building will only be shared, as Harry S. Truman and Leo Kerner students will operate on an entirely different beginning and end, lunch and recess times.
• Truman’s school day will run from 7:30 - 2:30 PM, and Kerner’s school day will run from 8:45 - 3:30 PM.
• Students will maintain their same classmates, teachers, support staff and administrators.
• Before and after-care will be offered.
• Transportation will be provided. 

These arrangements are what we deem as a temporary solution based on the long-term status of Kerner’s campus. As previously mentioned, we recognize that efforts to maintain structure and stability are imperative for our children's growth and learning, and this plan allows us to support that initiative. 
 
We know reopening has its challenges, and fluctuating circumstances can cause well-organized plans to change. Continuing an open dialogue with you is key to our restoration and recovery efforts throughout this difficult time. I will continue to provide updates, and appreciate your patience and partnership as we move forward together to meet the needs of both our students and our community. 

Dr. James Gray

Dear Families of Leo Kerner Elementary,

As I mentioned earlier this week, resuming your child’s education remains our top priority. We have been working tirelessly to finalize plans for providing a clear path forward to in-person learning for your child.

In an effort to keep an open dialogue with you and ensure an efficient start, I, along with School Board Member Tiffany Higgins-Kuhn and members of my team, invite you to attend a town hall meeting. This meeting will be an opportunity to meet with you to discuss our plan, share details, and answer any questions that you may have. The town hall meeting for Kerner Elementary families will take place this Saturday, September 18 at 10 a.m. at the Jean Lafitte Auditorium, located at 4953 City Park Street. We will continue to follow Start Strong protocols at the meeting, so please wear a mask. We will also ensure social distancing. It is my sincere hope that you can attend, but if you are understandably unable to, we will share any information discussed with all Kerner families following the meeting.

Additionally, I’d like to assure you that we will keep siblings together and ensure a safe and welcoming in-person learning environment for both children and employees. While we will continue to work hard and support one another, we also know that reopening has its challenges. Fluctuating circumstances can cause well-organized plans to change. However, we will continue to keep you informed and share details as we learn more.

Throughout this unexpected and difficult time, we will move forward with meeting the needs of both your child and our community. We will continue to show up for our students and one another. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding. 

Dr. James Gray