Public school students across Webster Parish return to classrooms Friday, August 7, bringing the start of the 2026-27 school year and increased traffic around campuses as law enforcement urges motorists to slow down and stay alert.
Minden Police Chief Jared McIver said officers will be assigned to school zones to enforce traffic laws aimed at protecting students during arrival and dismissal times.
“Our officers will be in those school zones monitoring speeding, texting while driving, and passing school buses while stopped to pick up kids or drop them off,” McIver said.
Drivers are encouraged to allow extra travel time during the first days of school as traffic patterns adjust. Glenbrook School students will return to class Friday, August 14.
Motorists are reminded to obey posted school zone speed limits, follow directions from crossing guards, and remain alert for children walking or riding bicycles near campuses.
Law enforcement officials also emphasized the importance of complying with Louisiana’s hands-free driving law, which prohibits drivers from using handheld cell phones while operating a vehicle. Authorities say eliminating distractions is one of the most effective ways to reduce crashes in school zones.
School bus safety
Drivers must stop for school buses when the red warning lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended. Traffic in both directions must come to a complete stop at least 30 feet from the bus and remain stopped until the bus begins moving again and the warning lights are no longer flashing.
The exception is on roadways where opposing traffic is separated by a physical barrier, raised median, or continuous center turn lane. In those cases, only traffic traveling in the same direction as the bus is required to stop.
Passing a stopped school bus is a serious traffic violation that places children at risk as they enter or exit the bus.
Child passenger safety
Louisiana law requires children younger than 13 to ride in the back seat whenever possible.
Safety recommendations include:
- Rear-facing car seats until at least age 2, or until a child exceeds the manufacturer’s height or weight limit.
- Forward-facing car seats with an internal harness for as long as possible, typically until about 65 pounds, depending on the seat’s specifications.
Parents should note campus changes
Parents of former J.L. Jones Elementary School students should also be aware of new campus assignments that take effect this school year.
Second-grade students will attend J.A. Phillips Elementary School, while third-grade students will attend E.S. Richardson Elementary School.
School officials encourage parents and guardians with questions about student pickup or drop-off procedures to review their school’s newsletters or Facebook posts or contact the school directly.
As students head back to school, officials are asking drivers to exercise patience, eliminate distractions behind the wheel, and watch carefully for children throughout Webster Parish’s school zones.