Audit: Louisiana schools must have emergency plans, but not all meet requirements

A new report shows how many threats Louisiana schools got in 2022 and that not all campuses are meeting legal requirements for safety and emergency response plans.

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) -- A new report shows how many threats Louisiana schools got in 2022 and that not all campuses are meeting legal requirements for safety and emergency response plans.

An audit was conducted after state lawmakers passed a bill in the 2023 regular legislative session creating the School Safety Act of 2023. The law requires schools to prepare a crisis management and response plan with law enforcement, public safety and emergency preparedness officials. The Louisiana Legislative Auditor's Office reviewed how well school districts are complying.

Louisiana law has required schools to create a crisis and response plan since 2001, the report said. While schools are required to make a plan, no state agency is required to track whether it was completed or meets guidelines.

State lawmakers have passed 62.5% of proposed school safety legislation from 2018 to 2022, at a higher passing rate compared to the national average of 19.41%, the National Conference of State Legislatures reported.

Auditors said Louisiana schools got 109 reports of threats in 2022. The majority of those were shooting and bomb threats.

According to survey results, auditors said not all schools have an Emergency Operations Plan meeting best practices and legal requirements, adding that an average of 348 schools were non-compliant. The survey covered 1,257 of Louisiana’s 1,729 public schools.

Louisiana has gotten $26 million in grants for school safety, including $3.7 million for EOPs. The report said the $3.7 million grant was allowed to expire with $1.6 million unspent, partly due to low program participation.

"In addition, despite available funding to schools to implement required emergency notification and anonymous reporting systems, not all schools have taken part in state provided systems nor implemented alternative systems," the audit said.

Fifty-nine of 91, or 64.8%, school districts have "opted in" to the RAVE panic app while two unidentified districts have opted to use alternative systems as of November 2023, according to LCSS.

About 58% — 565 of 971 — schools eligible for the Safe Schools Louisiana anonymous reporting system app have enrolled, according to Crimestoppers, the report said.

Louisiana State Police told auditors that districts are hesitant to roll out a program relying on grants. That doesn't guarantee funding for long-term maintenance.

The report notes Louisiana doesn't require periodic site assessments of campuses to make sure security measures comply with state law and best practices.

"According to LSP, schools are sometimes noncompliant with physical security requirements due to a lack of funding, but other times it comes down to convenience. Schools forgo some low-cost updates or no-cost practices because complying with those requirements creates inconvenience for staff," the audit said.

While it is recommended, the state also doesn't require school resource officers at public schools. The report said a survey found that as of November 2022, at least 418 of 1,257 public schools didn't have at least one SRO.

Auditors suggest that lawmakers may want to consider allocating money for elementary and secondary public schools to hire at least one SRO and consider making it a requirement.

Response from Louisiana Department of Education

In a response, Ernise Singleton, assistant superintendent in LDOE's Office of Career & College Readiness said, "Every single day, parents instill in us a sacred trust when sending their children to school. The safety of Louisiana's students is our top responsibility."

Singleton listed actions LDOE has taken for school safety. They include the annual Louisiana School Safety Summit, Stronger Connections Grant, Anonymous Reporting App, School Safety Collaborative, Hurricane Preparedness Playbook and Emergency Preparedness and Recovery Resources.

Some of these initiatives involve officials outside of the education industry, like law enforcement and government agencies.

What parents with kids in Baton Rouge area schools need to know

The Livingston Parish School System and West Baton Rouge Schools are two school districts in the Greater Baton Rouge area with plans in place in the event of a crisis.

LPSS Risk Management Director Wendy Gill said schools in the parish have a multihazard emergency plan and anonymous reporting. There are drills for fire, restricted flow, lockdown, severe weather and bus evacuation.

Examples of restricted flow, according to LPSS, are medical emergencies, dogs on the playground, suspect searches near campus and suspicious noises near campus. In this plan, students can stay in the classroom but cannot go outside.

The school system works with the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office and Office of Homeland Security and Municipalities during emergencies, according to information provided by Gill.

Reports of suspicious activity involving schools can be made in person to administrative staff or by calling 833-697-1589.

West Baton Rouge Schools has plans in place in the event of:

• Utility failure.
• An unidentified person at a school.
• Weapons on school property.
• Medical emergency/mass-casualties.
• Fire/arson.
• Severe weather.
• Bomb threat.
• Explosions.
• Radiological release.
• Chemical release.
• Death on campus.
• Active shooter.

Plans are also outlined for two schools located close to chemical plants in the parish.

Parents with kids in Livingston Parish schools can get credible information during an emergency through the messenger system and the LPSS Facebook page. The school system said one of the most important things parents can do is make sure their child's school and bus driver has the latest emergency contact and check-out card information.

While parents may want to go directly to the school during an emergency, Livingston Parish school officials recommend against it unless parents are told they can.

"We take any threat to our schools very seriously and respond accordingly, no matter whether it is anonymous or not," the school system said.

WBR Schools wants parents to know that personnel will take quick action to keep students safe during an emergency.

"As information is received and confirmed, we will move in a timely manner to ensure safety and then get information out to the public," WBR Schools said. "It is important that parents do not overwhelm the schools with calls or show up as that may complicate our efforts."

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