JEFFERSON PARISH, La. — Jefferson Parish Public Schools are pushing back their first day of school again, this time to Aug. 31.
Originally delayed until Aug. 26 due to COVID-19, the new starting date is a result of two storms in the Gulf of Mexico.
Tropical Storm Marco made landfall in Louisiana Monday evening, but had mostly died out before reaching the coast. Tropical Storm Laura is expected to strengthen to at least a category 2 hurricane before reaching Louisiana on Wednesday night.
The delay will give JP Schools more time to get ready for a combination of in-person and virtual learning, according to officials.
"Schools will continue to organize technology and instructional materials in order to distribute these materials to families in advance of the first day for students," a statement from JP Schools said. "Families will hear directly from their schools about when they can pick up resources for their students."
Jefferson Parish schools have been embroiled in a controversy as teachers and many families said schools should be delayed while the parish and state are seeing high levels of cases.
Jefferson Parish Public Schools Superintendent Dr. James Gray originally pushed back the first day of classes to Aug. 26 in response to teachers' and parents' concerns.
That date was when Ochsner would be able to give Jefferson Parish Public Schools access to a 15-minute COVID-19 test to help prevent the spread of the virus inside schools.
There may be additional delays schools in Grand Isle and Lafitte as those areas are under a mandatory evacuation.
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