NOLA Public Schools Addresses Air Quality Concerns and Prioritizes Safety for Scholars and Staff

(New Orleans – October 23, 2023) —The safety and well-being of our scholars, teachers, and staff are of utmost importance to NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS). Today, the New Orleans East community, which is home to a significant portion of our student population, experienced adverse air quality conditions resulting from a combination of fog and smoke stemming from nearby marsh fires. In response, NOLA-PS has been working diligently with local agencies to assess the situation and ensure the safety of our school community.

As a result of these ongoing concerns, school networks have made individual decisions on whether to cancel school, delay the start of school, or maintain their regular schedules for tomorrow and possibly longer depending on the air quality. We understand that these determinations have a direct impact on our scholars, their families, and our committed staff. We encourage them to proactively contact their respective schools for detailed information regarding school hours and bus transportation schedules.

While we have not foreseen any immediate changes in conditions for tomorrow, it remains at the discretion of charter management organization leaders to make the call based on the specific circumstances affecting their school community.

Furthermore, as a precaution for today, NOLA-PS recommends that all outdoor after-school activities be closely monitored, particularly for individuals with respiratory concerns, over the next few days.

NOLA-PS is closely monitoring the situation in collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ). As the conditions evolve, the district is committed to providing timely updates to ensure the safety of our school community.

As always, the safety and health of our scholars, faculty, and staff remain our top priority, and we thank the community for their understanding and cooperation during this time. 

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About NOLA Public Schools: NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) is the public school district for Orleans Parish. It includes the district's administration and elected school board, known as the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB). NOLA-PS currently oversees 72 public schools and is led by Superintendent Dr. Avis Williams, the first woman in the District's 181 years to serve as its permanent superintendent.

For more information, visit www.nolapublicschools.com. For updates, follow NOLA Public Schools on Facebook @NOLAPublicSchools, Instagram @nolaps and Twitter @NOLAPSchools.