Press Release: School Closure

In accordance with Proclamation Number 27 JBE 2020-27 from Governor Edwards to address public health concerns from the Coronavirus (COVID-19), schools in Richland Parish will close facilities to students until April 13, 2020. Grab-and-go lunches for our eligible students will be available for pick up beginning March 18, 2020, at select School Meal Sites. The meals will be distributed from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the following schools: Delhi High School, Rayville High School, Rayville Elementary School, and Mangham Elementary School. For any questions pertaining to School Meal Sites, contact Gracie Hosea at (318) 728-5964 Extension 227.

The proclamation suspends the minimum requirement of 63,720 instructional minutes required to complete a full academic school year; students will not be required to make up time missed due to school closure. In addition to the proclamation, Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) President Sandy Holloway and House Education Committee Chairman Ray Garofalo have submitted written correspondence to Governor Edwards requesting regulatory and statutory flexibility for public education. School performance scores and district performance scores for the 2019-2020 academic year will not be produced. BESE will continue to offer access to optional state assessments, as desired by schools and parents. Teacher evaluations can be completed with no further action, other than recording into the appropriate data system. Diploma requirements for graduating seniors, including requirements for minimum instructional minutes for course credit, industry-based credentials, and financial aid applications have been waived. The correspondence also seeks a waiver from nine (9) Louisiana Revised Statutes relative to public education. The central office and schools will share updated information as it is made available from the Governor's Office and Louisiana Department of Education.

Student safety remains the top priority of the Richland Parish School Board. We encourage everyone to follow preventative actions such as proper sanitation and social distancing to minimize the chance of outbreak and spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). We are extremely appreciative of our greater school community during this difficult time. Thank you for your support of the Richland Parish School Board. For additional information and updates, access our district website at www.richland.k12.la.us.

Sheldon Jones
Superintendent
Richland Parish School Board