ALEXANDRIA, La. (UrbanCast: 7/21/2026) — Alexandria Senior High School will begin the 2026-2027 school year with virtual instruction after an unintentional release of asbestos fibers during ongoing construction on campus.
The Rapides Parish School Board announced Tuesday that the campus will not open for the first day of school on Aug. 7.
District officials said the facilities department has worked with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality since the issue was discovered.
According to the school system, those agencies continue to ensure all safety and remediation standards are met before students and staff return.
Meanwhile, the district is also working with project architects and contractors to prepare the campus for a safe reopening.
All students enrolled at Alexandria Senior High School will begin the school year through virtual instruction. However, the district has not announced when in-person classes will resume.
The school system said it will provide updates to families and the public every Friday afternoon as additional information becomes available from the agencies involved.
Rapides Parish Schools also released a student guide with information about the virtual start to the school year. The guide is available on the Alexandria Senior High School website.
The district said protecting the health and safety of students and staff remains its priority as remediation efforts continue.
Previous Article: Unitech Alexandria Campus to Host Open House and Mock Clinic Experience Aug. 4
