All memorabilia items from closing schools will be placed for auction through the District’s standard auction process on publicsurplus.com. The standard notification process will be followed plus additional postings to ensure that the community is aware of the auctioning occurring. These auctions will not be lumped with other District items. The District will create a scholarship(s) for the benefit of a closing school student. Criteria will be determined at a later date. A date has not been set for the auction but will be communicated widely once it's set.

Safe, reliable transportation is one of the main functions of a public school system. Over 30,000 families rely on us for transportation every day. We know many of our families experienced challenges these last three years with reliable bus transportation, and we understand the burden that places on families. While we are seeing less disruptions to bus services than previous years, providing transportation for our families remains a daily priority for our bus drivers, transportation department, and district. 

We are continuously working hard to find solutions and are committed to serving our families. We regularly analyze ridership data in an effort to consolidate routes and make the most of the resources we have. When possible, we buddy the routes, meaning a bus driver will pick up/drop off an additional route on top of his/her regularly scheduled routes. With closures because of the 2023 Plan, we will be able to consolidate even more routes. We also remain in regular contact with our transportation vendor, offer incentives to recruit qualified drivers, and conduct licensing training for bus driver applicants. In the event there are bus service interruptions, we notify families as soon as we learn their route will not be serviced. 

We are working to ensure that all buildings are fully accessible to the students who will be attending new schools based on the 2023 Infrastructure and Efficiency Plan. Under the IDEA and related state law, students with exceptionalities receive accommodations in accordance with an Individual Education Plan (IEP) created specifically for the student by a team that includes parents and knowledgeable educators. We have, and will continue, to comply with state and federal law relative to accommodations for students with exceptionalities. As a district, we make decisions for students utilizing their IEP and student data to ensure that students have reasonable accommodations in place to allow access to an equitable learning environment.

The district is currently working on updates to welcome students to new schools for the 2023-2024 school year. These may include updates such as paving to ensure entry and exit points are accessible for all students, improving restroom facilities, and ensuring the classrooms are prepared to meet students’ needs.

Schools are meeting to share pertinent information about all special education students so that there will be a smooth transition, and staff are working on the transfer of students’ equipment for use in their new classrooms. We will ensure all students receive the necessary accommodations based on their individual needs from their IEPs.

We are committed to supporting our students, families, and schools through this transition and continuing to create a safe and orderly environment for all our students.

Our top responsibility is the safety of our students, and our top priority is student learning. We know change is not always easy, which is why the decisions we made in the 2023 Infrastructure and Efficiency Plan were not made lightly. 

We have, and will continue, to comply with state and federal law relative to accommodations that our students with exceptionalities need in order to access their educational programs. District personnel are meeting with impacted schools to share pertinent information about all special education students so that there will be a smooth transition. Service providers are working on classroom layouts and the transference of equipment in order to create familiarity for the students in their new classrooms. The administration teams at all our schools have student safety at the forefront of their minds and will welcome all new students with open arms.

We are also allocating additional support personnel and social workers next school year to impacted high schools to support students’ social emotional needs, ensure a smooth transition, and continue to create a safe and positive learning environment for all. Principals are working on activities and programming to conduct this summer and fall to help new students acclimate. In addition, we are implementing the Smart Start program that uses the first four days of school to give students in grades 9-12 their own dedicated first day of school.

We are allocating additional support personnel and social workers next school year to impacted high schools to support students’ social emotional needs, ensure a smooth transition, and continue to create a safe and positive learning environment for all. Principals are working on activities and programming to conduct this summer and fall to help new students acclimate. In addition, we are implementing the Smart Start program that uses the first four days of school to give students in grades 9-12 their own dedicated first day of school.

Because official diplomas are received from the state and are school specific, a student’s official diploma will have the name of their new school.  The district will provide students graduating in 2024 with an unofficial replica diploma with their previous school’s name. Additionally, all students are required to wear the same cap and gown for graduation.  During the 2024 graduation ceremonies, schools will allow students to wear chords and/or stoles representing their previous school.   

Yes. The second round of applications for the Magnet School Transfer Request is open May 1-12. Applications are available at jpschools.org/SchoolChoice.

Yes. The second round of applications for Jefferson Virtual High School is open May 1-12. Applications are available at jpschools.org/SchoolChoice.

Yes. The second round of applications for the 9th Grade High School Choice is open May 1-12. Applications are available at jpschools.org/SchoolChoice.

The schools and district are actively working together to determine how to best support families in this situation.  More information will be provided at a later date. 

We understand letterman jackets and class rings have significant meaning and value to students.  Students will be allowed to wear their class rings.  Additionally, if the new school has a future ring ceremony scheduled, new students will be allowed to participate. Please note, ceremony fees may apply.  As it relates to letterman jackets, during inclement weather days, students will be allowed to wear their letterman jackets.  Please note, no other jersey, class shirt, sweatshirt, or athletic team/club shirt will be allowed. 

Yes. Families may select schools on either bank provided there is capacity.  Families granted 9th Grade School Choice Transfers must provide their own transportation. 

JP Schools choose to consolidate for a multitude of reasons.

• We are in a similar situation as many other school districts across the nation that continue to experience a decline in enrollment. The trend of declining enrollment is being attributed in part to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other demographic factors that are affecting birth rates and school populations. Many of our current schools are not at capacity – there are too many facilities for the number of students we have. The current district student capacity is 60,750, and current student enrollment is approximately 42,000 (not including charter schools). 
• We are seeing record high teacher shortages, with 140 teacher vacancies, up from 40 vacancies at the same time in 2019. Teacher attraction and retention is a national issue with robust local and regional competition for seasoned educators. Our staffing shortages also include bus drivers, paraprofessionals, and mental health professionals.
• Eighty percent of our facilities are aged out of the average life cycle of a municipal building, which is 50 years. The average age of our buildings is 60 years, and 41% of our schools are between 41 and 99 years old. 
• Jefferson Parish looks different today than it did when our current footprint was established. The number of children under the age of 18 has been decreasing consistently each decade. In 1980, the number of children under the age of eighteen was approximately 140,000. In 2020, this population was 96,000.  
• In addition to the decline in student population, we have potential funding gaps due to Hurricane Ida repairs. Our plan is to continue funding recurring district initiatives that are using one-time Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) funds. For example, Jefferson Summer Bridge cost the district approximately $4,050,000 in ESSER funds during summer 2022, and all ESSER funds expire in September 2024.

These changes will be for the 2023-24 school year.

No. Certificated employees with a satisfactory evaluation working at a school that is closing or being  consolidated  will maintain their employment, salary, and benefits. Just like the 2020 school consolidations and K-8 expansion, the JP Schools Human Resources team will visit schools to meet face-to-face with employees impacted by these changes and get their input on where they would like to work next school year. 

JP Schools Family,

Communication with our stakeholders is key to our students’ success. This message provides more information as we continue to share updates with our students, families, and employees about the 2023 Infrastructure and Efficiency Plan. 

PLACEMENT LETTERS:

Last week, we mailed letters to families with a student impacted, noting the student’s 2023-2024 school according to the approved school attendance zone maps. If impacted families have questions, please feel free to call our call center at 504-365-5301. Please note there is no need to register your child at his or her new school, and all records will be transferred to the new school. In order to ensure all students are placed at the appropriate school, we will continue to follow our site determination process for special education students. If it is necessary for a child to attend a school that is different from the attendance zone school, families will receive a letter notifying them of the different school assignment in the coming weeks.

TRANSPORTATION:

Safe, reliable transportation is one of the main functions of a public school system. Over 30,000 families rely on us for transportation every day. We know many of our families experienced challenges these last three years with reliable bus transportation, and we understand the burden that places on families. While we are seeing less disruptions to bus services than previous years, providing transportation for our families remains a daily priority for our bus drivers, transportation department, and district. 

We are continuously working hard to find solutions and are committed to serving our families. We regularly analyze ridership data in an effort to consolidate routes and make the most of the resources we have. When possible, we buddy the routes, meaning a bus driver will pick up/drop off an additional route on top of his/her regularly scheduled routes. With closures because of the 2023 Plan, we will be able to consolidate even more routes. We also remain in regular contact with our transportation vendor, offer incentives to recruit qualified drivers, and conduct licensing training for bus driver applicants. In the event there are bus service interruptions, we notify families as soon as we learn their route will not be serviced. 

SUPPORT WITH STUDENTS WITH EXCEPTIONALITIES:

We have, and will continue, to comply with state and federal law relative to accommodations that our students with exceptionalities need in order to access their educational programs. We are working to ensure that all buildings are fully accessible to the students who will be attending new schools based on the 2023 Infrastructure and Efficiency Plan. Under the IDEA and related state law, students with exceptionalities receive accommodations in accordance with an Individual Education Plan (IEP) created specifically for the student by a team that includes parents and knowledgeable educators. We will continue to comply with state and federal law relative to accommodations for students with exceptionalities. As a district, we make decisions for students utilizing their IEP and student data to ensure that students have reasonable accommodations in place to allow access to an equitable learning environment.

The district is currently working on updates to welcome students to new schools for the 2023-2024 school year. These may include updates such as paving to ensure entry and exit points are accessible for all students, improving restroom facilities, and ensuring the classrooms are prepared to meet students’ needs.

Schools are meeting to share pertinent information about all special education students so that there will be a smooth transition, and staff are working on the transfer of students’ equipment for use in their new classrooms. We will ensure all students receive the necessary accommodations based on their individual needs from their IEPs.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

We are allocating additional support personnel and social workers next school year to impacted schools to support students’ social emotional needs, ensure a smooth transition, and continue to create a safe and positive learning environment for all. Principals are working on activities and programming to conduct this summer and fall to help new students acclimate. We are also implementing the high school Smart Start program that uses the first four days of school to give students in grades 9-12 their own dedicated first day of school. 

We will continuously provide updates throughout this process. For more information and recently updated answers to Frequently Asked Questions, please visit jpschools.org/2023Plan.

Jefferson Parish Schools

JP Schools Family,

Tonight, the Jefferson Parish School Board approved school attendance zone maps based on the 2023 Infrastructure and Efficiency Plan. The vote came during the regularly scheduled school board meeting.

School attendance zone maps and updated answers to frequently asked questions are available on our website at jpschools.org/2023Plan. We will send letters to families with a student impacted, noting the student’s 2023-2024 school according to the approved maps.

Below are the school attendance zone shifts based on the new maps:

• Grace King High School students will move to Bonnabel High School or Riverdale High School
• Gretna Middle School students move to Marrero Middle School or Livaudais Middle School
• Helen Cox High School students will move to John Ehret High School or West Jefferson High School
• Some John Ehret High School students will move to L.W. Higgins High School
• Joshua Butler Elementary students will move to Isaac Joseph Elementary or Truman School
• Some Isaac Joseph Elementary students will move to Judge Lionel Collins Elementary or Truman School  
• Mildred Harris Elementary students will move to Cherbonnier Elementary or Emmett Gilbert Elementary 
• Some Emmett Gilbert students will move to Cherbonnier Elementary
• Washington Elementary students will move to Bunche Elementary
• St. Ville Elementary students will move to Woodmere Elementary
• Some Audubon Elementary students will move to A.C. Alexander Elementary
• Some AC Alexander Elementary students will move to G.T. Woods Elementary

We are committed to supporting our impacted employees through this process. Our Human Resources team met twice with all impacted schools, and we are working to secure placements for employees based on where they would like to work next school year. Certificated employees with a satisfactory evaluation working at a closing school will maintain their employment, salary, and benefits. 

To support families and offer them maximum school choice options, we re-opened our School Choice programs application windows from May 1 through May 12 for our 9th Grade High School Choice, Magnet School Transfer Request, and Jefferson Virtual High School. For more information about these processes and to apply, please visit jpschools.org/SchoolChoice.

We have listened intently to concerns from our students, families, and employees, and we have put in place supports and processes to ensure a smooth transition for students and continue to create a safe and positive learning environment for all. We are holding weekly planning meetings with impacted principals, allocating additional support personnel and social workers next school year to impacted high schools, and working on programming to conduct this summer and fall to help new students acclimate. We are continuing to work on bus transportation solutions, regularly analyzing ridership data in an effort to consolidate routes and make the most of the resources available. We have and will continue to comply with state and federal law relative to accommodations that our students with exceptionalities need in order to access their educational programs.

We know change is not always easy, which is why our decisions have not been taken lightly. While we have made significant gains these past three years, we can not ignore the challenges we face, including staffing shortages, aging facilities, and declining student enrollment. This plan is a proactive measure to face these challenges head-on in order to ensure we can continue to put students first, staff schools appropriately, and begin to build new schools. 

I am grateful to have a student-centered School Board who was willing to make the right decision to move our district, community, and parish forward. I am grateful for a community who wants to help our students and schools with their time, money, and resources. I am grateful for the commitment of our families, teachers, administrators, support staff, and district staff who work tirelessly to ensure our kids have what they need to succeed. And most importantly, I am grateful to have incredible students who support one another, care deeply for their community, and are taking the necessary actions to prepare themselves to be successful. Together, I know we can continue to accomplish great things.

Dr. James Gray

JP Schools Family,

Tonight, the Jefferson Parish School Board decided to delay voting on the proposed school attendance zone maps as previously planned in order to optimize the opportunity for public comment. The School Board will vote on the 2023 Infrastructure and Efficiency Plan proposed school attendance maps at the regularly scheduled School Board Meeting on May 3, 2023 at 6 p.m. at 501 Manhattan Blvd.

Proposed school attendance maps and FAQs are available on our website at jpschools.org/2023Plan. Once the School Board approves the maps, we will send another message to all families and employees. Families who have a student impacted will be sent a letter to their home mailing address that notes the student’s 2023-2024 school according to the approved maps. 

We are working to support students, families, and employees who are impacted by these changes. Below are some key updates:

• Our Human Resources team met face-to-face with all impacted schools, and we are working to secure placements for employees based on their preferences. 

• From May 1 through May 12, application windows will be open for our 9th Grade High School Choice, Magnet School Transfer Request, and Jefferson Virtual High School. We will reopen these three applications to ensure we offer our families maximum school choice options. For more information, please visit jpschools.org/SchoolChoice.

• We are allocating additional support personnel and social workers next school year to impacted high schools to support students’ social emotional needs, ensure a smooth transition, and continue to create a safe and positive learning environment for all. 

• We are also working with principals on activities and programming to conduct this summer and fall to help transition and acclimate new students. 

Thank you for your support and understanding as we work together to build a better Jefferson Parish. 

Jefferson Parish Schools

JP Schools Family,

Since the School Board approved the 2023 Infrastructure and Efficiency Plan on April 5, we have been working to create updated school attendance maps based on the approved plan. These proposed school attendance maps are now available on our website at jpschools.org/2023Plan. Beginning Tuesday, April 18, the proposed maps can also be viewed at the JP Schools Administration Building at 501 Manhattan Blvd. in Harvey and the Paul Emenes Building at 822 S. Clearview Pkwy. in Harahan. The School Board will vote on these proposed maps at a special session School Board meeting on April 24 at 6 p.m. Once approved, families whose student(s) are impacted by any shifts will be sent a letter. 

Due to district lines being adjusted and to ensure contiguous boundaries, some students currently zoned for a particular school may be impacted, which would result in a change of school for a small population of students. Below are key attendance zone shifts from these proposed maps:

• Grace King High School students will move to Bonnabel High School or Riverdale High School

• Gretna Middle School students move to Marrero Middle School or Livaudais Middle School

• Helen Cox High School students will move to John Ehret High School or West Jefferson High School

• Some John Ehret High School students will move to LW Higgins High School

• Joshua Butler Elementary students will move to Isaac Joseph Elementary or Truman School

• Some Isaac Joseph Elementary students will move to Judge Lionel Collins Elementary or Truman School  

• Mildred Harris Elementary students will move to Cherbonnier Elementary or Emmett Gilbert Elementary 

• Some Emmett Gilbert students will move to Cherbonnier Elementary

• Washington Elementary students will move to Bunche Elementary

• St. Ville Elementary students will move to Woodmere Elementary

• Some Audubon Elementary students will move to A.C. Alexander Elementary

• Some AC Alexander Elementary students will move to G.T. Woods Elementary

We began conducting transition meetings with principals this week and will continue doing so on an ongoing basis. These planning meetings will help facilitate a smooth transition for students and staff at impacted schools. We are also getting feedback from students, teachers, and support staff in the transition planning to ensure our students are set up for success. 

Communication with our stakeholders is key to our students’ success. That is why we will continuously provide updates throughout this process. For more information, including proposed attendance maps and recently updated answers to Frequently Asked Questions, please visit jpschools.org/2023Plan. 

Jefferson Parish Schools

JP Schools Family,

As a system, our goal is to envision the best possible future for Jefferson Parish Schools while mapping a practical plan for the challenges we are presented with today.  We currently have 140 teacher vacancies, up from 20 vacancies three years ago. Since 2020, our enrollment has declined by over 2,000 students. The average age of our buildings is 60 years old. We still face over $500 million in permanent repairs from Hurricane Ida. We are facing rising insurance costs like the rest of southeast Louisiana. 

We can’t ignore these challenges. Instead, we must face these challenges head-on and examine the future of our school facilities to ensure our students have the best educational opportunities available. Tackling these tough decisions now will set our students, system, and parish up for long-term success. 

We understand this is an incredibly difficult and emotional time for the students, families, employees, and communities impacted by the decisions in the proposed 2023 Infrastructure and Efficiency Plan. As a district, we do not make these decisions lightly.

The proposed plan puts our students into higher quality school facilities, addresses our ongoing staffing challenges, and allows us to provide more opportunities and resources for our students and schools who need it the most. Consolidating schools with low enrollment allows us to optimize our buildings and puts more money back into classrooms. No matter what school our students attend, they will be welcomed with open arms. Customized plans for each impacted school will be shared with students, families, and staff as more information becomes available. Revised school attendance maps will be available at the end of April, and once available, families will be sent this information via Jcampus communication.

The proposed 2023 Infrastructure and Efficiency Plan and answers to Frequently Asked Questions can be viewed at www.jpschools.org/2023Plan. Please note the FAQs will be updated on a continuous basis.

There will be a Regular Session School Board meeting in which the board will consider approving the proposed plan. The meeting will be held on April 5, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. at the JP Schools Administrative Office (501 Manhattan Boulevard, Harvey, LA 70058).

Change is not always easy, but these changes are necessary if we want to ensure our children have the education they deserve and the opportunity for a better tomorrow. I know that together, we can continue to be the proof point for what’s possible.

Dr. James Gray

JP Schools Family,  

We want you to have the important information we have outlined below in detail. Tonight, Meyers Engineering/MGT Consulting presented the 2023 Infrastructure and Efficiency Plan to the Jefferson Parish School Board. This plan expands opportunities for kids, maintains educator jobs, addresses staffing shortages and our aging facilities, and stabilizes our financial future. 

The plan Meyers Engineering/MGT Consulting presented tonight is the result of feedback from the January School Facilities Stakeholder Survey, MGT Town Hall meetings held in March, dozens of community meetings, feedback from various stakeholders, and research by the district and independent education consultants. It also puts into action many of the recommendations made by the Hill Group in their 2018 Jefferson Parish Schools Educational Facility Master Plan study.

The plan allows us to continue to expose students to high-quality curriculum, provides accelerated opportunities for students, provides families with school choice, gives us the ability to increase partnerships, and gives schools the opportunity to be more competitive in athletics. It keeps our teachers in the classroom and does not impact current class size formulas. It considers our various neighborhoods and its impact on students’ safety and security, increases transportation efficiencies, ensures that high-yield instructional initiatives like Jefferson Summer Bridge can continue, and allows us to continue to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. 

The following schools will be impacted most significantly:

• Grace King High School students will be absorbed into Bonnabel High School and Riverdale High School 
• Gretna Middle School students will be absorbed into Marrero Middle School and Livaudais Middle School
• G.T. Woods Elementary students will be absorbed into Bissonet Plaza Elementary School and Tom Benson School
• Helen Cox High School students will be absorbed into John Ehret High School, LW Higgins High School, and West Jefferson High School
• Joshua Butler Elementary students will be absorbed into Judge Lionel Collins Elementary, Isaac Joseph Elementary, and Truman School
• Mildred Harris Elementary students will be absorbed into Cherbonnier Elementary and Emmett Gilbert Elementary  
• Washington Elementary students will be absorbed into Bunche Elementary 
• Haynes Academy students will relocate to the Grace King High School campus
• Thomas Jefferson Academy students will relocate to the Gretna Middle School campus
• St. Ville Elementary students will be temporarily housed at Woodmere Elementary while a new school is being constructed

While our goal is to have brand new schools across our entire district, the plan puts in motion the construction of two new school campuses at the following sites:

• Bunche Elementary 
• St. Ville Elementary 

 This plan also calls for the creation of one new PK-8 school:

• C.T. Janet Elementary (currently PK-5)

Our growth these last two years is evidence that what we are doing is working for our students. This does not happen by chance. It happens through the intentional use of high yield instructional practices that support our shared vision of success for all students. It happens by ensuring we have the structures and programs in place to move all of our students forward. It happens through the continuous support and development of our people. It happens through partnerships with our families and community. We have an opportunity to optimize a facilities plan that ensures we can put students first, staff schools appropriately, and address our aging buildings in an efficient manner. While this plan includes hard decisions, they ensure our children can have a better tomorrow. 

The School Board will vote on the plan April 5. We will be posting Meyers Engineering/MGT Consulting’s entire plan on our website here tomorrow so employees, families, and the community can get more information.

Sincerely,

Dr. James Gray

JP Schools Family,

Today marks the three-year anniversary of when our schools were shuttered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, we have been through a lot together. Whether it was learning how to conduct virtual instruction, taking daily temperature checks, implementing one-to-one student technology, or teaching in a new building after Hurricane Ida, you persevered. You supported one another, learned new skills, and adjusted practices in order to meet the needs of our kids. You pivoted as our context shifted.

As these last three years have shown us, change is not always easy. However, change is necessary if we want to ensure our children can have a better tomorrow. As you may know, the School Board hired Meyers Engineering and MGT Consulting Group to develop a revised Infrastructure and Efficiency Plan and present it at an upcoming School Board meeting. They will use community feedback from the nine town hall meetings last week to help create the plan. 

In addition to utilizing input from our stakeholders, Meyers Engineering and MGT Consulting Group will also take into account where we are as a district. While we have made significant gains, we still face the following ongoing challenges:

• We are seeing record-high teacher shortages. We are currently down 150 teachers, up from 40 vacancies in 2019. Teacher attraction and retention is a national issue. Staffing shortages also include bus drivers, paraprofessionals, and mental health professionals.
• 80% of our facilities are older than the average life cycle for a municipal building. The average age of our buildings is 60 years. 
• Overall, our current schools are not at capacity – meaning there are too many facilities for the number of students we have. The current district student capacity is 60,750, and current student enrollment is approximately 42,000, not including charter schools.
• The parish looks different today than it did when our current footprint was established. The number of children under the age of 18 has been decreasing consistently each decade. In 1980, the number of children under the age of eighteen was approximately 140,000. In 2020, this population was 96,000.  
• In addition to the decline in student population, we have potential funding gaps due to Hurricane Ida repairs and funding recurring district initiatives that are using one-time ESSER funds. For example, Jefferson Summer Bridge cost the district approximately $4,050,000 of ESSER funds in summer 2022, and all ESSER funds must be spent by September 2024.

While we won’t know any details until the consultants present the final plan to our School Board and administration, our goal is that the plan would include building new schools, significantly reducing staffing shortages, and possibly bringing back certain programs (e.g., athletics, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), art, band, music, dance, theater). With the approval of the most recent sales tax and millage renewals, we have the public’s trust, so the plan would also ensure that we continue to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars.

Please also know the plan would protect educator jobs. Any impacted certificated employees with a satisfactory evaluation would maintain their employment, salary, and benefits. Just like we did in 2020 when we conducted school consolidations and K-8 expansion, our Human Resources team would visit schools to meet face-to-face with impacted employees and obtain their input on where they would like to work next school year. 

As I value honesty and transparency, I will continue to share updates and information with you about this process. I encourage you to continue to stay focused on what’s important now - the students in front of you each day. While this plan would go into effect for the 2023-2024 school year, we still have two and a half months to finish the year strong.

Collectively, we have an opportunity to optimize a facilities plan that ensures we can put students first, staff schools appropriately, and address our aging buildings in an efficient manner. We are part of a larger ecosystem and depend on each other to progress our community as a whole. The moves we make today will set our students, district, and parish up for success in the future. As we continue planning for what’s next for Jefferson Parish Schools, thank you for your support and commitment in doing what’s right for our kids.

Dr. James Gray