Dear Ray St. Pierre Academy 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.

All repairs are on schedule, and the Ray St. Pierre campus is nearing completion for the temporary repairs. Work is still underway in the two four-classroom buildings on campus. We anticipate all work being complete by the start of the new school year in August. 

Your continued patience and flexibility is greatly appreciated. I am certain that as we continue to work together while we navigate the tides of this recovery process, our campus, school, and community will be stronger and more unified than ever. The next update will be provided on Wednesday, July 6 and remember to visit jpschools.org/StPierreReturn for your school’s hurricane recovery updates. 

 Dr. James Gray

Dear Ray St. Pierre Academy 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.

The architect is continuing to construct designs for permanent work on the Ray St. Pierre campus that provides permanent solutions. In the meantime, a work order was issued last Thursday for temporary repairs to begin on the main two-story buildings of the Ray St. Pierre campus. Additional repairs will be made to the two four-classroom buildings on the rear side of the campus. In the main office, the floors are currently undergoing repairs, as they are being replaced entirely. Additionally, we are currently in the process of moving all library books to the original library building of the campus to improve the instructional space and make the library more accessible for teaching and learning. Lastly, teachers recently received boxes to begin packing their supplies at their current schools in preparation of moving back to Ray St. Pierre campus. 

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/StPierreReturn for your school’s hurricane recovery updates. 

 Dr. James Gray 

Dear Ray St. Pierre Academy Family, 

I would first like to thank you for your patience and flexibility, as I know you have made sacrifices, had to be adaptable, and exhibit endurance during these last few months. These efforts however, will not be in vain, as I can assure you that the day will come when you will be back home at your school campus. I have often stated that the key to our recovery efforts would be continuous communication. With this in mind, the following message is to update you on where we are in the recovery process. 

As of now, I can confirm that the school is scheduled to reopen in August for the start of the 2022-2023 school year. Temporary repairs are being made to the school campus in two of the four classroom buildings. Due to these buildings being considered historical, special clearance is needed prior to any further repairs being made. Additionally, our operations team and the principal conducted a walkthrough of the campus this week and identified all the additional classrooms that would be needed so that the school can reopen. I can also inform you that the school library will be moving back to its original location to better serve as an educational space for our students and teachers. 

Ultimately, I know you want to be back home at your Westwego campus. That day will come. Until then, we will continue to prepare the Ray St. Pierre school campus for a safe return so that it can once again comfortably serve our students, employees, and families.

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 Ray St. Pierre school community remains a priority. In addition to our regular text and email updates, we will launch a website dedicated to recovery efforts that will include the latest information about our progress made on the Ray St. Pierre school campus. Information about this web page in the coming weeks.

Again, thank you for your continuous patience and support throughout this process. I know that together, we can continue to work together to provide the best education for our students.

Dr. James Gray 

Ray St. Pierre Academy Family,

As we continue our recovery efforts, I wanted to update you on the condition of the Ray St. Pierre Academy campus. Due to the facility’s historic nature, FEMA mandates additional steps be taken to restore the safety and aesthetics of the buildings. Our School Board recently approved a budget and assigned an architect to develop waterproofing and repair designs. These must be approved by FEMA before we can continue with that step of the recovery process.

We also conducted a walkthrough today with the architect to discuss ongoing recovery efforts and will be meeting this week to discuss our plans with the rebuilding team. We realize this process is slow and it may appear like work isn't happening, but please know that our priority is to return our Ray St. Pierre students to their original campus as soon as possible. While student learning is our top priority, it is also of critical importance that we take all of the proper steps to ensure we get the best long-term results for the Ray St. Pierre campus.

Keeping our stakeholders informed is key to our recovery efforts, so we will be sharing another update with Ray St. Pierre employees and families in the near future. Please stay tuned for more information.

Thank you for your patience and shared partnership as we continue our recovery efforts together.

Dr. Gray

St. Pierre Academy Families,

Before we begin the winter break, I wanted to update you on plans for the remainder of the school year and on the condition of the historic St. Pierre Academy building in Westwego. St. Pierre Academy will continue to share facilities with Ruppel Academie Francaise and Gretna No. 2 Academy for the remainder of the 2021-22 school year. Due to the historic nature of the St. Pierre Academy facility in Westwego, FEMA mandates additional steps be taken to restore the safety and aesthetics of the building. Maintaining the current arrangement for all St. Pierre Academy students, employees, and families will limit the disruptions that would come from shifting to another temporary facility this school year. 

The St. Pierre Academy facility was built in 1940 and is more than just a school building. It carries historical significance, especially to the Westwego community. We are working with FEMA’s Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation experts to ensure we meet environmental planning and preservation requirements. While we have made progress at the facility, these FEMA requirements dictate the unique process we must follow to fully repair and restore your school. At an upcoming board meeting, we are asking board members to assign an architect who will develop waterproofing and repair designs. These must be approved by FEMA before we can begin this process of the recovery.

I’m grateful for the patience, grace, and professionalism you’ve shown throughout this unexpected change. The current shared campus situation has been successful and Ruppel Academie Francaise and Gretna No. 2 Academy have been wonderful hosts, but I know your preference is to be back in your permanent facility. In situations like these, however, we are looking for a long-term solution. Those tend to take longer than quick fixes, but are worth the additional investment of time and resources. 

We will continue to keep you updated throughout this process. Happy holidays to you and your family.

Dr. James Gray

Dear St. Pierre Academy Family,

Thank you for your patience and flexibility as we finalize reopening plans. As I shared during the town hall this week, 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.

All Ray St. Pierre Academy students will return to school at the Ruppel Academie and Gretna No. 2 Academy campuses on Tuesday, October 5. St. Pierre Academy teachers will work virtually Thursday, September 30 and report to their shared campus on Friday, October 1. St. Pierre Academy kindergarten classes will share a campus at Gretna No. 2 Academy due to limited first floor space at Ruppel Academie. All other St. Pierre Academy grades will share a campus at Ruppel Academie. 

Ruppel Academie and Gretna No. 2 Academy will follow their normal tier 3 reopening schedule. 

This temporary plan is based on the long-term solution for Ray St. Pierre’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 St. Pierre Families/ Faculty & Staff, 

I hope this message finds you well as you continue to make efforts towards your recovery.  
 
This evening we hosted a town hall to update families and employees on the current condition of the Ray St. Pierre Academy campus. This 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 St. Pierre employees and families who were unable to attend. 
 
Condition of Ray St. Pierre Campus
Hurricane Ida’s winds and flood waters reached record levels in Jefferson Parish. The substantial damages that occurred at the St. Pierre campus caused environmental concerns. As a result, the building is currently not safe for learning. 
 
Nonnegotiables for Ray St. Pierre Employees and Families
First, let me put your mind at ease by addressing what are likely your primary concerns about a temporary campus. We recognize that this is an uncertain time, and there are many moving variables in our lives. Therefore it is critical that we create a sense of stability and structure, particularly within a learning environment. With this in mind, we have a few nonnegotiables 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:

• St. Pierre Academy will operate its own school using a shared campus with Ruppel Academy Francaise, located at 815 Huey P. Long Avenue in Gretna.
• St. Pierre and Ruppel students will operate separately on this shared campus. This includes different classes, lunch, and recess.
• St. Pierre’s and Ruppel Academy’s school day will run from 7:20 - 2:10 PM.
• Due to the limited number of 1st floor classrooms at Ruppel Academy, two St. Pierre Academy kindergarten classes will share a campus with Gretna No. 2 Academy, located at 701 Amelia Street in Gretna.
• 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 St. Pierre 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

Good morning Ray St. Pierre Academy Family,
 
Our goal has always been to reopen schools safely and as quickly as possible. In order for us to reopen schools, contractors will release schools to us as they meet safety, environmental, and operational standards. 
 
As part of the school reopening process, our contractor conducted a final inspection at all of our tier 1 schools this week. On their visit to Ray St. Pierre’s campus yesterday, issues were discovered in the building that would prevent us from opening safely on Monday, September 20.  As previously mentioned, as with any construction related project, we may identify additional work that needs to be completed. While the initial assessment was clear, this issue was brought to our attention late yesterday afternoon. Details are still pending from our contractor about what repairs must be completed before the building can be reopened. 
 
At this time, Ray St. Pierre will be included in tier 3 of our phased reopening. Staff will return to work on September 29, and students will return on October 1. We will be sure to maintain an open dialogue as we receive additional information and ensure that enough time is allotted for you to be able to prepare to return. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you or your family. Thank you for your patience as we work collectively to navigate the aftermath of this trying and unforeseen event. 
 
Jefferson Parish Schools