Lafayette Parish, LA (February 9, 2026) – The Lafayette Parish School System reinforced its ongoing commitment to student safety Monday as principals from across the district participated in a comprehensive school safety tabletop exercise during their scheduled in-service training.
Parents and families have asked LPSS to clearly communicate the procedures and protocols in place to ensure the safety of students on campus. Monday’s training provided school leaders with an opportunity to review those measures and strengthen their response planning.
Tabletop exercises allow administrators to talk through realistic scenarios in a structured setting. During the session, principals discussed how to respond if a shelter-in-place or lockdown becomes necessary while visitors are present on campus. The discussion focused on decision-making, communication strategies, and reinforcing expectations with faculty and staff.
Principals were encouraged to ensure signage is clearly posted around campus doors instructing students and staff not to open doors for anyone during the school day. They were also reminded to reinforce with staff the importance of questioning individuals in hallways who are not wearing proper identification or a visible visitor badge.
LPSS campuses operate with multiple layers of safety protocols, including:
- A single point of entry at each fenced-in campus
- Secure vestibules that prevent direct access to students prior to check-in
- Mandatory visitor check-in procedures requiring identification and a prominently worn visitor tag
- Weapons detection systems at each campus entry point
- A School Resource Officer stationed at every fenced-in campus
- Required safety drills conducted at a mandated cadence throughout the school year
- Campus mapping in partnership with the Lafayette Office of Emergency Preparedness to assist law enforcement in the event of an emergency
District leaders emphasized that school administrators and staff are trained to respond appropriately in the event of a potential threat, and ongoing training ensures preparedness remains strong.
The Lafayette Parish School System remains committed to providing a safe, secure learning environment for every student, every day.
