August 26, 2024
COVID Guidelines
August 25, 2023
K-12 Guidance and Resources | La Dept. of Health
COVID-19 Isolation Recommendations
August 1, 2023
2023-2024 School Operational Guidelines
Questions/Comments regarding this plan can be emailed to communications@opsb.net
August 25, 2022
K-12 Schools and Early Care and Education (ECE) Program Operational Guidance
August 1, 2022
2022-2023 School Operational Guidelines
Questions/Comments regarding this plan can be emailed to communications@opsb.net
February 25, 2022
As of February 25, 2022, the CDC does not require people to wear masks on buses or vans operated by public school systems, including early care/child-care programs. School systems at their discretion may choose to require that people wear masks on buses or vans. LDH recommends masking on buses, but they are no longer required. This follows the requirements for visitors and students in the school. Masks are highly recommended, but they are not required.
February 1, 2022
SCHOOL OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE FOR COVID-19
January 3, 2022
UPDATED COVID GUIDELINES FOR RETURNING TO SCHOOL JANUARY 6, 2022
August 12, 2021
2021-2022 Ouachita Parish Schools Reopening Guidance
School COVID-19 Screening Decision Tree
April 28, 2021
Ouachita Parish School System Reopening Plans 2021-2022 (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
Questions/Comments regarding this plan can be emailed to communications@opsb.net
April 13, 2021
March 25, 2021
Updated K-12 Physical Distancing Guidelines
March 16, 2021
When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated / CDC
February 22, 2021
Updated Quarantine Information:
Vaccinated persons with an exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 are not required to quarantine if they meet all of the following criteria†:
- Are fully vaccinated (i.e., ≥2 weeks following receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose series, or ≥2 weeks following receipt of one dose of a single-dose vaccine)
- Are within 3 months following receipt of the last dose in the series
- Have remained asymptomatic since the current COVID-19 exposure
Persons who do not meet all 3 of the above criteria should continue to follow current quarantine guidance after exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
January 28, 2021
Don’t postpone your child’s check-ups!
December 10, 2020
Quarantine Options After Exposure to COVID-19
October 6, 2020
Questions about Students and Quarantine per Louisiana Department of Health Guidance:
Can a student have an antibody test done to be exempt from a quarantine?
There is not enough known yet about the correlation between antibody presence and immunity. Therefore, if you have a recorded positive molecular test (you have been tested and were positive for COVID 19)—you are “exempt” from quarantine for a period of 90 days from that test. After that 90 days you should complete quarantine if exposed regardless of antibody presence. You can show your positive COVID results to be exempt from quarantine.
The State Epidemiologist stated that schools should not accept antibody test results as a form of exemption for a close contact quarantine. The person should have documented evidence of a previous positive COVID test not just antibody test results.
Can a student stop quarantine if they test negative?
If a close contact tests negative during their quarantine period, they should remain in quarantine for the duration of the 14 days and monitor for the development of symptoms at any time during the quarantine period.
September 30, 2020
Louisiana Department of Health COVID-19 Contact Tracing in Schools
LDH released the linked document with steps for COVID-19 Contact Tracing in Schools.
September 22, 2020
USDA Waiver allows FREE Meals for ALL Students until December 31, 2020 or until Federal funding is exhausted.
On August 31, 2020, the United States Department of Agriculture extended waivers that allow child nutrition programs to provide free breakfasts and lunches for all students until December 31, 2020 or until federal funding is exhausted. Ouachita Parish School Board applied and was approved to extend free meals to ALL our students at ALL schools throughout the parish.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? Until December 31, 2020 or until federal funding is exhausted, every child who attends Ouachita Parish Schools will be allowed to receive ONE breakfast and ONE lunch per day without charge. Any second servings or extras, such as bottled water, will have to be paid for by the student prior to receiving that item.
Beginning September 1, 2020, Child Nutrition Services has not charged any meal to any student. If a meal was charged prior to that time, a refund has already been made to student accounts.
Parents are encouraged to leave money in their child’s account in order to cover meals/extras a student may purchase. If you do not want your child to purchase second servings, please contact your school cafeteria manager.
If you have any questions, please contact Child Nutrition Services at 318-398-1990.
September 17, 2020
Parental Reporting is Vital
As we enter Phase III of COVID guidance for education, it is vitally important for the lines of communication between parents and schools to remain open.
Parents are asked to please notify the school of any suspected COVID-related illness within your home to the as it relates school. The school is relying on your reporting to best protect all of the students within our care.
Being able to evaluate which students and staff may need to quarantine or isolate is of critical importance to help stop the spread of possible COVID within the schools. Parental reporting will enable us to do a better job of keeping the schools safe.
Ouachita Parish Schools would like to thank you for your continued support during this unique time in education, and we look forward to bringing your children the best education available.
September 15, 2020
Schools Move Into Phase 3
With the announcement of Louisiana moving to Phase 3, our schools will make the change to the Phase 3 plan as well. What does this mean for you?
Beginning Monday, September 21, if you have a middle or high school student attending in-school classes on the A/B schedule, those students will now attend school every day Monday through Friday.
Beginning Monday, September 21, if you have a middle or high school student attending virtual classes (VIP) on the A/B schedule, those students will now attend school VIRTUALLY every day Monday through Friday.
The change at elementary level is minimal. Classroom and Bus capacity is slightly higher.
Masks and other mitigation measures are still in effect in Phase 3. To see the previously published school system phased plans, click here.
August 25, 2020
School COVID-19 Screening Decision Tree
COVID-19 Close Contact Letter
COVID-19 Positive Case Letter
COVID-19 Group Contacts Letter
COVID-19 Return to Work Certification
August 13, 2020
School Isolation/Quarantine Recommendations
July 9, 2020
Ouachita Parish Schools Release Phased Plan for 2020-2021 School Year
Ouachita Parish School System released Thursday a detailed Reopening Plan for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year. The plan addresses the three phases which could be enacted by Governor Jon Bel Edwards during the pandemic. System leaders sought input from parents as well as community and employees when formulating what each phase of education could entail. The number one priority for everyone involved is student and employee safety.
Under the three plans, schools will adhere to guidelines set forth by the Louisiana Department of Education, as well as following recommended protocols from CDC and DHH. “At no time do we want our employees or our students to feel unsafe in our schools,” said Dr. Don Coker. “While we all face these new challenges together, it is our hope that well-defined plans and procedures will ensure parents are more at ease with sending their children back to class so that we can resume educating our students.”
The system’s plan addresses everything from transportation capacity on school buses to group sizes and athletics. There are procedures outlined for distance learning in middle and high school, and a virtual instruction option for PreK-12 students whose parents are not comfortable with sending their children to school under the current phase. A copy of the plan can be found here.
Additionally, the district rolled out a Virtual Instruction Program which parents can choose to enroll their students into, PreK-12. The program will be taught and managed by Ouachita Parish teachers and administrators. Registration for the program will be July 15 through July 24. More information including a handbook and registration procedures will be posted on the V.I.P page in the next week.
June 1, 2020
Pre-K Registration and Kindergarten Round-Up begin this week. Visit these pages for details:
Pre-K Registration
Kindergarten Round-Up
May 28, 2020
SUMMER FEEDING PROGRAM INFORMATION
Ouachita Parish Child Nutrition Services will open Summer Feeding sites on
Monday, June 1, 2020. Information on sites, pick-up times, and protocols can be found
on the SUMMER FEEDING PROGRAM page.
May 18, 2020
PANDEMIC-EBT AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS:
The Louisiana Department of Education has opening application for the P-EBT, which is available for students who receive free or reduced-price lunch. The informaton and application can be found at this link.
NOT QUALIFIED FOR P-EBT, BUT INCOME HAS CHANGED?
If Your Family Paid For School Meals This School Year, And Your Income Has Changed Since March 16, 2020:
If your income has been reduced since March 16th, you may apply online for Free/Reduced meal benefits at www.myschoolapps.com. Complete the application, submit, and you will be notified within 24 – 72 hours if you qualify for Free/Reduced Meal benefits. Once you are notified, you may THEN the apply online for the one-time P-EBT debit card, valued at $285.00 per child younger than age 18 in the household.
Application for P-EBT must be completed online by June 7th.
OPENING OF OFFICES:
District offices opened up today by appointment. Safety measures are in place to protect employees and visitors, including temperature checks, masks, and social distancing among others. Please call ahead if you need to visit a department. Safety is our top priority.
April 23, 2020
MEALS-TO-YOU Update
April 17, 2020
Update on extended closure and continuing education
First and foremost, we hope you and your family are safe. We will get through this together!
In keeping with Governor Edward's proclamation, all Ouachita Parish School campuses will remain closed through May. However, instruction and learning will continue through distance and digital learning.
Your district and school leaders are making plans for student promotion in the 2020-2021 school year. Parents will be notified by their child's school and teacher on next steps for completing work and achieving grades.
- The district will allow parents to check out Chromebooks on an as needed basis for completion of online assignments. Schools will notify parents of the check-out process.
- Seniors have received a survey along with information from your school. Make sure you complete the survey as soon as possible.
- K - 11 grades will be given the opportunity to continue with academic work either virtually or through printed materials. Core academic teachers will be in contact with students, and teachers will post office hours on their websites to let parents know when they are available for questions that students may have about their schoolwork.
- Students’ grades would be determined by providing opportunities for students to earn up to 100 extra points (50 in elementary levels) in the 5 core classes with the students completing the assignments given by teachers showing quality work and completeness.
- To date, there has been no reschedule of the Pre-K and Kindergarten registration process. When that information is available, it will be updated on our website in this COVID-19 area, as well as, on the calendar and the Pre-K page under Departments.
April 10, 2020
Update on closure and learning resources
Following the Governor’s mandate, all schools will remain closed through April 30. Thanks to our Instructional Team and Graphic Arts department we prepared a second round of printed materials that will be available at select sites beginning Tuesday, April 14th through Friday, April 17th from 8:00 AM to 12:00 noon each day. Materials for Kindergarten through High School will provide several weeks of practice, review, and enrichment for the students. In addition to the sites listed below for pick-up, all of the printed materials will be available April 14 on our website under the tab titled HOME LEARNING.
The following locations will serve as pick up sites where the materials can be retrieved.
The BOLDED pick-up location serves the schools listed below the location.
The big question on everyone’s mind is how students will progress after the pandemic. Be assured that our school system leaders are very much researching and planning for the benefit of all of our students. In the coming weeks, you can expect communication from your child’s school on learning opportunities and grading plans. We love our students and will do everything in our power to keep them on track for a bright future.
April 6, 2020
CERTIFIED APPLICATION PROCESS
Perspective applicants can visit our JOBS page for information on applying/interviewing during the COVID-19 closure.
April 3, 2020
MEALS-TO-YOU PROGRAM Registration ended 4/10/20.
March 23, 2020
In light of the Governor’s ‘Stay at Home’ mandate, we have reevaluated our school food service program. The issue is not whether feeding students is important. We all agree it is. In one week alone, through the efforts of our dedicated employees and volunteers, we have served more than 14,000 meals to our students.
At this time, we must consider the safety and well-being of our employees, particularly in light of the shortage of adequate protective gear such as gloves and face masks. This week we will continue meal distribution on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at current sites except for Calhoun Elementary and Woodlawn Elementary. These students can pick up at alternate feeding sites. Monday and Wednesday students will receive two breakfasts and two lunches to provide for Tuesday and Thursday meals.
Accordingly, our school system will suspend its food services at all locations effective upon completion of serving this Friday, March 27th. There will not be meals distributed beginning March 30th through April 13th. Also, all school offices and school board facilities will be closed from Tuesday, March 24th through April 13th. Please visit opsb.net for updates and information. Thank you, stay at home and stay safe.
March 13, 2020
With rising concerns regarding COVID-19 (Coronavirus), Governor John Bel Edwards has closed all K-12 schools beginning on Monday, March 16, until April 13. This includes all Ouachita Parish School Board campuses and events. We feel this decision is in the best interest of the safety of all faculty, staff and students.
Please click the links below for information within each topic. We know that many questions may arise during this time, and we are prepared to assist families however possible. Questions can also be sent directly to communications@opsb.net.
As always, communication with our students and families is something that is very important to us, and we will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available. Updates to families and the general public will be provided through this site and phone calls/text messages as deemed necessary. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time, and we thank you for your continued support of our district.
CDC GUIDELINES: CARING FOR CHILDREN
STUDENT WORK PERMITS
district information
FREE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION
LA DEPartmenT OF EDucation FAQS - GENERAL
STATE & GOVERNMENT LINKS
TEACHER RESOURCES
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