Today, more than 30,000 students in Lafayette Parish will be returning to the classroom for the start of the 2018-2019 school year.
Students and teachers at Milton Elementary will be welcomed back with a brand new wing of the school. That new wing includes 42 new classrooms and an extra capacity of 200 students.
Over 30 butler buildings were removed from school grounds to make way for the new wing.
There aren’t too many changes this year when it comes to zoning and schools of choice, but those students aging up to a new school may need extra time to adjust to the schedules and bus routes.
Superintendent Donald Aguillard is looking forward to Southside High School’s second year adding another grade level.
“we have 510 registered ninth graders registered at Southside high school,” says Dr. Aguillard. “we’re excited about the growth in the number of students attending Southside. They will likely be at about 1200 students with three grades when school opens.”
Dr. Aguillard also says that the school is off to a great start.
In his fourth year as Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Donald Aguillard says that he hopes this year will be smoother in regards to the changes made to transportation. Aguillard says that the transportation issues have been resolved and that any problems can be directed toward LPSS’ new proactive call center at 232-RIDE.
Progress on the construction of Comeaux High School’s Performing Arts Center is expected to be finished sometime in early 2019. The construction of the new wing at Comeaux began in April of this year. Construction on Milton’s campus is part of the initiative to remove older bulter buildings from campuses across the parish.
Westside Elementary is also planning to reopen after the flood.
Aguillard also says that investing in technology is important to the school system. LPSS currently has it’s virtual school where students can receive instruction online, but the system is also looking to add a new robotics center at the Career Center that Dr. Aguillard says he hopes will be the finest robotics program in the state.
Dr. Aguillard adds that he is thankful for the teachers that have chosen Lafayette Parish. “I am personally committed to making sure the school year and the opportunities for students are second to none in the area.”
Today, August 8, students in Lafayette, Acadia, Iberia, and St. Mary parishes are heading back to school. Find out more about these first days below.