Lafayette Parish School System (LPSS) officials have announced that all schools will be closed on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, and Wednesday, January 22, 2025, due to expected Arctic cold weather and the possibility of snow and/or freezing precipitation. Superintendent Francis Touchet, Jr., emphasized the district’s focus on safety in making this decision.
"I feel confident in making this call today to allow parents to prepare for students to be home and not subjected to the bitterly cold temperatures and wind chill,” said Superintendent Touchet. “Additionally, a combination of freezing temperatures and wet weather, in whatever form, could create hazardous road conditions which would make travel by any means, especially buses, dangerous.”
If conditions permit, the LPSS Facilities team and school administration will inspect campuses to assess water and heating systems on Wednesday afternoon. The district will also continue monitoring weather forecasts, temperatures, and road conditions to determine if schools can safely reopen on Thursday, January 23, 2025.
“Getting students back into the classroom is always the goal,” Superintendent Touchet added, “but I will only allow campuses to open if we are certain that it's safe to do so.”
Parents, staff, and community stakeholders are encouraged to stay informed by checking the LPSS website, following the district’s Facebook page, tuning into local media outlets, and enabling notifications on the J-Campus app for real-time updates.