UPDATE: Acadiana's school systems and schools are sending out updates for school closures.
Here are the latest as of Wednesday morning, arranged by parish:
ACADIA PARISH:
From Acadia Parish School System: Due to hazardous road conditions and the latest National Weather Service forecasts indicating continued adverse weather, we have made the decision to close schools for Thursday, January 23, 2025. We are anticipating to have normal operations of school resume on Friday. The decision regarding school on Friday will be based on road conditions and the status of our campuses. The safety of our students, staff, and families is our top priority, and this decision is being made to ensure everyone’s well-being. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates regarding any future closures or delays. Please stay tuned to local news, our district website, and our Facebook page for any additional information regarding any changes. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Stay safe, and we look forward to seeing everyone back as soon as conditions improve.
LSU EUNICE: After accessing the campus and local area, with freezing temperatures expected to continue throughout south Louisiana and icy road conditions, the LSU Eunice campus will be closed on Thursday, January 23. This closure affects LSUE’s satellite campuses in Lafayette and Alexandria. All in-person classes canceled, while online classes should contact their professors for further instruction. Students should be advised that because of the closure, all late registration, financial clearance, final date to add/change and 100% refund for dropping a course by 11:59PM deadlines will be delayed from Tuesday, January 21 to Monday, January 27. The LSU Eunice administration is continuing to monitor the forecast for Friday through guidance from the National Weather Service and local emergency officials. It is important during these days of campus closure that the LSUE community monitors their e-mail. LSUE students should also check myCourses on myLSUE to review any coursework and/or notes from your professors. LSU Eunice officials will continue to monitor the forecasts and local conditions with any updates being announced through e-mail, social media, and www.lsue.edu [lsue.edu].
CALCASIEU PARISH:
With the continued forecast of below freezing temperatures and poor road conditions, all Calcasieu Parish School Board schools and facilities will remain closed tomorrow, Thursday, January 23. Once conditions improve tomorrow afternoon, district personnel will complete building assessments. These assessments will take time, so it will likely be tomorrow evening before an update will be provided as to the status of school on Friday, January 24.
EVANGELINE PARISH:
After communicating with the Evangeline Parish 911/Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP) and based upon the most recent information from the National Weather Service (NWS), indicating extended below-freezing temperatures and unsafe driving conditions, the Evangeline Parish School District, including all campuses and district offices, will remain closed Thursday, January 23, 2025. All school-related events and activities will remain canceled. The safety of our students and employees remains our top priority. A decision regarding the possibility of reopening Friday, January 24, 2025, will be announced after roads are safe to travel and campus assessments can be conducted. Please check local/regional media outlets, EPSB’s website, and social media platform for updates.
IBERIA PARISH:
Iberia Parish School District officials have been advised that roads throughout the parish remain hazardous for travel with potentially dangerous icing that will likely not see significant melting until midday on Thursday. Due to these current road conditions, travel warnings, and continued frigid temperatures, all Iberia Parish Schools and offices will remain closed on Thursday, January 23, 2025. This includes all school-related extracurricular activities. If conditions improve, we anticipate being able to perform necessary facility inspections during the afternoon hours on Thursday. At that time, decisions will be made about the possibility of reopening on Friday.
Due to continued winter weather conditions, Acadiana Christian School in New Iberia will remain closed tomorrow. Our administration will share an updated school calendar and schedule next week to account for these closures. We are praying for the safety and well-being of our entire school community. May God keep everyone warm, safe, and protected during this time. Thank you for your understanding and patience. Stay safe and God bless!
JEFF DAVIS PARISH:
From Superintendent John Hall: Jeff Davis Parish Schools will be closed Thursday January 23, 2025 for the safety of our students, staff and families. It is forecasted that roads and bridges will have ice and snowpack on them without sufficient time to melt this afternoon. Please continue to follow our FB website for decisions concerning Friday. Jeff Davis will pull through this as we always have using common sense and teamwork. We will assess our buildings Thursday afternoon once we have significant time to visit all of our campuses when temperatures will be in the 40's.
LAFAYETTE PARISH:
UL Upward Bound math and science Saturday enrichment event for student participants will not take place on Saturday. Has been postponed to February 1.
From the Lafayette Parish School System The Lafayette Parish School System (LPSS) leadership continues to closely monitor the extreme cold weather and its impact on school operations. As we work to keep the community informed, we want to share the process and challenges involved in determining whether schools will open on Friday, January 24.
- Campus Assessments
Facilities team members and administrators must visit each campus to assess whether heating systems are operational and water pipes are not frozen. Ensuring that all campuses are safe and functional is our top priority. - Safety of Staff
Our staff members' safety is paramount. We are in close communication with local emergency preparedness officials and law enforcement to determine when it is safe to travel to schools for these assessments. - Impact on Families
We recognize that school closures create challenges for parents and guardians. However, we cannot reopen schools unless we are confident they have adequate heat and water service to support students and staff. - Transportation Safety
Our transportation team is actively monitoring road conditions. Safe travel for buses, staff, and students is a critical factor in our decision-making process.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to stay informed through official LPSS communication channels, including the website, social media, and the J-Campus app. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate this challenging situation. We will provide updates as soon as new information becomes available.
Lafayette Christian Academy will remain closed on Thursday, Jan. 23
Acadiana Renaissance Charter Academy and Lafayette Renaissance Charter Academy will remain closed Thursday, Jan. 23 and will continue to monitor the conditions at the schools.
ST. LANDRY PARISH:
From St. Landry Parish School System: Due to the extreme frozen temperatures, all schools and central offices in the district will remain closed on Thursday, January 23rd. This school closure includes all school related activities. This decision has been made to ensure the safety of our students, staff, and community. A decision will be made concerning a possible return on Friday, January 24th as we continue monitoring weather conditions. Thank you for your understanding and stay safe during this time.
ST. MARTIN PARISH:
Due to extremely low temperatures and unprecedented snow and ice accumulations, all St. Martin Parish schools and offices will remain closed on Thursday, January 23, 2025. Staff will inspect all facilities when it is safe to do so and make a determination about reopening. The safety of our students, staff, and community is our top priority. Please stay safe and warm.
VERMILION PARISH:
From Vermilion Parish Schools Superintendent Tommy Byler: Based on current forecast and information from the National Weather Service and OEP, schools will remain closed on Thursday, January 23rd. All events and practices scheduled for Wednesday are postponed. The status of Thursday afternoon and evening events will be determined at a later time depending on road conditions. As of now, school on Friday is scheduled to take place. Again, this could change based on road conditions early Friday morning. In addition, the student half day and school PD day scheduled for next Wednesday, January 29th, will now be a full day of school in an effort to meet our requirements on student minutes. Thank you for your understanding in this unprecedented event. Stay warm and stay safe.
Vermilion Charter Academy will remain closed Thursday, Jan. 23.
