Lafayette Parish Public School students go back to class the day after Labor Day, and as everyone begins to prepare for the first day, KATC has answers to the big questions.
Elementary students will go back to school five days a week, and stay in small groups that stick together all day. Middle school and high school students will go to class on alternating days. From the first moment on the bus, everyone must wear a mask or an appropriate alternative.
"If you have a doctors reasoning that you cannot wear a mask we have a form that the doctor can fill out and the minimum would be a face shield, so we know that masks is where we go but if you have a health issue we're going to work with accommodations to have a face shield," says Jennifer Gardner, LPSS Chief Administrative Officer.
If a student forgets their mask, the school system has more than 30,000 to share. Buses will run at 50% capacity with strict seating rules.
"We are requiring that bus drivers turn in seating charts, that's real important for contact tracing that we may have to do so those seating charts will have to be developed and maintained," says Superintendent Irma Trosclair.
To avoid large gatherings, on campus meals will be delivered to classrooms and for days that students are not attending in-person, families can order "Meals to Go" in advance to take home for the week.
Thermal cameras have been added to schools for temperature checks, and everyone will have to pitch in when it comes to cleaning.
"All of us have to go above and beyond. Teachers absolutely in their classrooms with helping to disinfect after students leave. we provided everything they'll need to do that, but it's going to take custodians to do a lot more than they've done in the past," says Trosclair.
Right now the last day of school is set for May 28th.
