Lafayette Parish School System Details Timeline After Last-Minute Closure Sparks Backlash

Due to an unexpected heavy rainfall that flooded campuses and roadways, the Lafayette Parish School System (LPSS) decided to close all schools early on Wednesday morning. However, the timing of this announcement frustrated many parents, as it came after some students had already started their commute or were already on campus. Parents had to navigate flooded roads to pick up their children, adding to their frustrations.

The LPSS media release mentioned that Superintendent Francis Touchet, Jr. made the call around 7:30 a.m. after getting several updates about the severe weather. Initially, there were reports of 1.5 inches of rain by 6 a.m., but things quickly escalated, with heavy rainfall pushing totals up to 7 inches by 8 a.m. The National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Warning at 6:41 a.m. Unfortunately, the timing of the flooding on roads and at schools made things really tricky for both school officials and families.

Parents expressed their frustration and confusion on social media. "It's a little late," commented Maggie Lackie, echoing many others who didn't agree with the timing.

Others questioned the school system’s communication methods, with one parent, Min Simon, suggesting that text notifications should be prioritized, as many received the message after already arriving at schools. “Now you got us parents going down flooded roads trying to get our kids,” added Michelle Duhon Jones, echoing safety concerns for those navigating dangerous conditions to retrieve their children.

Superintendent Touchet addressed these concerns, stating, “The safety of our students and staff is, and will always be, my top priority. The severity of this morning’s weather event caught us all by surprise…we will implement these lessons to strengthen future responses.”

See the full timeline behind LPSS' decision to close schools on Wednesday (Nov. 13) here.