Evangeline Parish School Board Delays School Opening July 22, 2020 The Evangeline Parish School Board Wednesday night in a lengthy meeting approved delaying the start of public schools in the parish to permit teachers more time to prepare for students under a new approved Covid-19 plan. The original calendar date for the start of school was August 12 with teachers due to come in two days earlier. The vote to delay was 10-1 with Wanda Skinner voting no. . The board authorized Superintendent of Schools Darwan Lazard and his staff survey the teachers and prepare two proposed calendars for the start of school in time for the next school board meeting on August 5 . After a presentation by Superintendent of Schools Lazard and Assistant Supt. Michael Lombas on a blended plan for students returning to the classroom along with the choice of students attending the Evangeline Virtual Academy, the board approved the plan by a 10-1 vote with Wanda Skinner voting no. Skinner had earlier made an earlier motion to go 100 percent virtual and her motion died for a lack of a second. A survey of parents showed that over 60 percent of parents responding want to send their children back to school while some 20 percent do not. That is why the school district has given parents the option to have their children attend the Evangeline Virtual Academy online from their homes. Some 1072 of the 5700 students have signed up so far , for the online school. The deadline to sign up is July 31. The major problem facing the school system is some rural areas of the parish have no internet service. School officials have met with the Louisiana Public Service Commission and the local internet provider, Centurylink but have yet to resolve the issue. Each school will have three temperature checking devices that can check the temperature of each student crossing through it. Supt. Lazard gave an overview of the adopted plan: No more than 25 students in a classroom in Phase two. Face coverings are mandated for school employees and students. All students will receive face to face instruction Monday and Tuesday or Thursday and Friday depending upon the group they are in. The other days will be home instruction through distance learning Students refusing to wear a face covering at school will be removed from class and sent home and will have to attend the online school. School Board Attorney Bob Hammonds said he is preparing an official policy for the school board to follow to stay in line with the act of the legislature that will provide immunity to the school system from any liability should someone come down with Covid 19. Alex Hickerson, a parent, said he was pleased the board voted to delay the start of school but he is concerned that some board members are not taking the wearing of face masks seriously. Yvonne Johnson, local Louisiana Association of educators representative, announced that 150 teachers have responded to a survey about the start of school: 29 percent of teachers are ready to start school, 37 percent are unsure about the start of school and 34 percent said they felt pressured to return to school. In other business, the school board: --Recognized the new principal at Ville Platte High School Chenile Tezeno ; --Heard from Supt. Lazard announce that the French Immersion teachers from Belgium and France were given special waivers from President Trump to come teach at Ville Platte and Mamou Elementary. Special thanks to Wanda Verette and Eric Soileau for their work along with Congressman Mike Johnson; --approved the purchase of 1100 additional chromebook devices so every student will have one to start the school year at a cost of $435,000; --received news that large ceiling fans will be installed at six school gyms in August.