October 3, 2023

Jefferson Parish Schools and NOLA Public Schools Press Release:

(New Orleans – October 3, 2023) — In light of potential saltwater intrusion from the Mississippi River, NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) and Jefferson Parish Schools (JP Schools) have partnered to reaffirm their unwavering commitment to the safety and quality of the educational experience for scholars across our communities. Together, our school districts are taking proactive measures to address this issue with the utmost care and attention. (Click here to read more)

October 2, 2023

Dear JP Schools Family,

As you know, Governor John Bel Edwards’ request for a Federal Emergency Declaration as a result of the saltwater intrusion in the lower Mississippi River region was granted last week. Parish President Cynthia Lee-Sheng also declared a state of emergency in Jefferson Parish due to this impending issue, which officials are telling us could impact our parish in late October.

We want to reassure our stakeholders that we are taking the necessary steps to ensure we are prepared. We are continuing to work closely with our state and local officials to make sure we are ready. This includes purchasing bottles of water for students and staff, working with our Child Nutrition team so we can continue to provide high-quality meals, and analyzing the possible impact on internal controls to mitigate saltwater impacts to our Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems, cooling towers, ice machines, and water heaters. Our goal is to minimize disruptions to teaching and learning and continue with our normal educational processes and programming. We created a dedicated website at jpschools.org/SaltwaterIntrusion with our latest updates and resources.

Just like we weren’t COVID experts, we also aren’t saltwater intrusion experts. That’s why we remain in constant contact with the experts to utilize the best information available. However, we know plans can change as the situation evolves, and we will pivot as needed to keep our students and employees safe and continue to communicate with our stakeholders.

Dr. Gray

September 22, 2023

JP Schools Family,

As you may know, Governor John Bel Edwards held a press conference this afternoon about the impending saltwater intrusion in the lower Mississippi River. We are working alongside state and local officials to ensure we are prepared, and we will communicate with our stakeholders about this issue as additional information arises.

Jefferson Parish Schools

To view the Louisiana Department of Health's Saltwater Intrusion FAQ, please click the image below.