How Safe Is Your Lafayette Parish School Student?

Lafayette parents are bush getting school supplies, new uniforms that fit, and checking bus schedules. Your most precious treasures will head off to their respective schools and be in the care of faculty and staff whose number one goal is to nurture their young minds and help them be academically successful.

When our children are away from us physically, they are always on our minds. Are they behaving? Will they have homework? Will I have time to shuttle them to all their extracurricular activities? And, probably at the top of the list in today’s world, are they safe?

Lafayette Parish School Superintendent Francis Touchet, Junior, has been hyper-focused on keeping students safe while they are at school, and he plans to continue addressing any safety concerns that arise and identify potential issues before they do. As a matter of fact, protocols and equipment are already in place so parents can breathe easier when their children are out of their sites and on school campuses.

Here are five things that exist at all Lafayette Parish public schools to ensure the safety of students:

FENCING AROUND ALL SCHOOL YARDS

Drive by any public school in Lafayette Parish and you’ll notice a fence around the school.

LIMITED POINTS OF ENTRY

While the schools want the parents and people who need to be on campus to get into the building, limiting the ways people can go in and out helps monitor who, when, and why they are in the building.

DOOR BUZZERS

Doors at those points of entry are locked, and visitors need to let the person on the other end of the intercom know why they are there.

WEAPONS DETECTION SYSTEM

It’s heartbreaking that these mechanisms are even necessary, but the anxiety of every person in America goes off the charts when we hear about a school shooting. Parents can take comfort in knowing that weapons detection systems are in place at every school, elementary through high school, to help eliminate a potential danger.

SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS

The SRO (School Resource Officers), as they are called, are members of law enforcement who are stationed at every single school campus. Lafayette Parish is one of the few in the state and even in the country that has an SRO at all the schools. If you talk to these men and women, they are emotionally attached to their schools and students, often referring to them as “my kids.” Parents can rest assured that these officers are trained, alert, and completely focused on keeping kids safe.

LPSS encourages parents to bring any concerns or ideas to their attention. Staff and faculty at the district and school level understand that safety and culture contribute to a successful educational experience for Lafayette Parish Students.