The sign featuring South Plaquemines High School’s mascot, the Hurricanes, took damage in Isaac.

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After a week of clean ups and repairs, public schools throughout the parish opened
yesterday and nearly all have electricity.

As of press time, power has been restored to all schools in Belle Chasse, as well as
Phoenix High School, Phoenix Elementary, South Plaquemines High School and South
Plaquemines Elementary.

The Buras Teacher Apartments are still operating on a generator, but teachers returned September 6. Boothville-Venice Elementary is still operating on a generator,
however Superintendent of Schools Denis Rousselle says Entergy is working expeditiously to restore power to that area.

Rousselle says that although the population is still scattered following Isaac, it is important for parents to know that schools are open and ready to operate business-as-usual.

“We know enrollment is going to be low,” said Rousselle. “But the message we want to
send the community is ‘Bring your children back as soon as possible.’”

As a means to help parents get their children back to school, the PPSB is offering transportation for those who have evacuated to Gretna or Algiers.

Starting Monday, September 10 at 6 a.m., a school bus will pick up South Plaq students in the Rouses parking lot, located at 2851 Belle Chasse Hwy. and take them to school.

Rousselle is working with St. Bernard Parish Superintendent of Schools Doris Voitier to set up a similar school shuttle service for those Eastbank residents temporarily located in St. Bernard, but a location had not been determined as of press time.

Rousselle says its important not only to encourage those who have left the parish, to
come back, but its important for those residents at the south end who never left.

“We have people down there who are working, and trying to clean up their houses and
businesses; when schools are open there is a safe place for their children to go while they’re cleaning up,” said Rousselle.