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Superintendent outlines staggered start dates, safety upgrades and a July 26 backpack giveaway
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Ken Oltling previewed the 2025–26 school year with staggered start dates in August, bus registration and Where's the Bus app instructions, continued free school meals, new safety technology and resource officers, and a drive‑through youth rally backpack giveaway on July 26 for the first 500 parish residents.
Superintendent Dr. Ken Oltling used the board's July 16 meeting to preview operational plans for the 2025–26 school year and to highlight safety and family‑facing programs.
Oltling outlined staggered start dates to ease the opening of schools: families with children whose last names begin A–K will attend their first day on Friday, August 8 and stay home Monday, August 11; those with last names L–Z will attend on August 11 and remain home on August 8; all students attend daily beginning Tuesday, August 12. Pre‑K staggered start dates were also presented. The superintendent said a back‑to‑school brochure will be mailed to all St. Charles Parish residents and that students will receive an “inbox” containing important district documents.
On transportation, Oltling reminded families to register students for bus service and to download the Where's the Bus app for real‑time arrival information. He also noted additional safety and security upgrades: added resource officers, enhanced camera systems at school sites, protective window film funded by a Louisiana Center for Safe Schools grant, a Raptor Smart Pass digital hall‑pass program, wearable panic buttons for staff, and an expanded Raptor Emergency Management Suite to support rapid response and reunification.
Oltling also promoted a community event: the annual youth rally backpack giveaway will be a drive‑through on Saturday, July 26 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Jerusalem Shriners Center parking lot in Destrehan; the event is sponsored by multiple local partners and will distribute supplies to the first 500 St. Charles Parish residents.
The superintendent closed by encouraging families to review back‑to‑school materials, register for bus service, and contact transportation or child nutrition departments with any questions.
