Students in Iberia and Jeff Davis Parish are heading back for their first day of school on Friday, August 9.
Teachers and administrators have been hard at work over the summer to prepare for the 2019-2020 school year.
KATC's Abby Breidenbach was LIVE at the brand new Belle Place Elementary in Iberia Parish where class will be in session.
Iberia Parish Superintendent Carey Laviolette says that the new school has some high tech features, including interior locks that will simplify lockdown situations.
"Also we have four computer labs. Each classroom will have a set of chromebooks and we have two outdoor pavilions for PE and other activities."
And the improvements in Iberia Parish schools stretch far beyond the new facility.
For five schools on the west side of the parish, a grant will allow for on-campus social workers to be made available.
"We are partnering with a company called Communities in Schools. They will be at Johnston Hopkins, Sugarland Elementary, Park Elementary, Anderson Middle and Westgate High School,"
And to cater to even more needs of students, a new program will provide high schoolers with real world experience.
"With a local business we are going to have an internship program whereby students will go part of the day to the business and once a week we will teach them interview skills and soft skills about the job market," explains Laviolette.
In Jeff Davis Parish, students and teachers will be heading back to school ready to build upon last year's success.
Some of those district successes include exceeding the state's average LEAP 25 Index and winning multiple athletic championships.
There are also plans this year for the building of a brand new elementary school in the parish.
Students, teachers, and administrators, today, however, will be focused on getting back into the swing of learning. Leaders say their goal is for all Jeff Davis schools to effectively meet the needs of every student this school year.