Will School Ever Start?

I am going to begin by stating that I am tired of starting school over and over again. In March we had to close and go virtual because of the Covid-19 quarantine. In June, we were allowed to return to face-to-face classes again. Approximately half of the De Beau Microschool students attend the Summer Semester. I was busy in July and August preparing for the Fall Semester, which included enrolling new students and renewing paperwork on existing students. The last week of August another shut down occurred thanks to Hurricane Laura. Evacuations took place ahead of hurricane landfall.

We are now a little over a week past hurricane landfall. The destruction is overwhelming. So many families have lost their homes. A multitude of local public schools were destroyed. In fact, three parishes have announced that school will be cancelled indefinitely. De Beau Microschool was impacted as well. The DeQuincy branch has serious roof damage and rain damage. The Moss Bluff branch did not have serious damage. In addition to the building damage for De Beau Microschool, and many other homes and businesses, the power grid was demolished. Officials are suggesting that power will not be restored to the area until October or November.

Once power is restored, our Moss Bluff branch will be able to resume classes right away. The DeQuincy branch is a different story. We have been searching and secured an alternative location for the DeQuincy branch while the roof and rain damage is repaired. Over the next few weeks, we will be moving items that can be saved and discarding what cannot be saved. We are preparing to open at the alternative location once power is restored to the area.

Scheduling will be different for a while as well. We typically hold classes Tuesday through Friday. Once we are able to return to classes, we will hold school Monday through Friday for several weeks to make up days missed. As of today, we have missed eight days. I have also considered holding a few Saturday classes, but I have not made a final decision on that yet.

I am thankful that we have been able to secure an alternative location for DeQuincy and that our Moss Bluff branch is fine. I am ready for school to start, again. I am ready to offer educational opportunities to students who have had their schools destroyed. I am ready to lead and teach again.