OPSB & RSD Announce Reopening of Schools
August 12, 2017
The Orleans Parish Schools (OPSB) and Recovery School District (RSD) have announced that school campuses will be open starting Monday, August 14. In light of the city’s announcement that the Sewerage and Water Board (SWB) power turbine that was taken out of commission due to a fire has been fixed, school programs may resume as previously scheduled at all Orleans Parish school sites.
Both district-run and public charter schools will be open starting next week.
OPSB direct-run schools, which include McDonough 35 High School, Mahalia Jackson Elementary, Bethune Elementary and Ben Franklin Elementary, will have their first day of school on Thursday, August 17. Students at these four schools will NOT report to campus on Monday – Wednesday. Instead, the first three days of the week will be dedicated to previously-scheduled professional development for staff which was canceled due to the problems with pumping capacity at the SWB.
“I fully support the return to school on Monday,” said OPSB President John Brown, Sr. “I want to thank Dr. Lewis, the recovery school district, and all the school leaders across the city for their continuous communications and hard work. I also want to thank parents, teachers and our students for their patience during this trying time. The safety of our students and staff is our number one priority.”
Both OPSB Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis, Jr. and RSD Superintendent Kunjan Narechania are excited to welcome students and staff back to campuses across the city as school begins throughout the month of August. For a list of the first days of school for each campus head to http://opsb.us/2017/07/first-days-of-school-for-the-2017-18-school-year/.
The safety of students and staff is the top priority for both the OPSB and RSD. The decision to close schools was made earlier this week out of an abundance of caution and in order to provide families and staff ample time to plan and secure childcare as the city dealt with diminished drainage capabilities. School officials have remained in close contact with school and city leaders throughout this trying time for New Orleans residents.