District Faces Host of Logistical Woes

Marrero, La.

Jefferson Parish school officials had lots to worry about in getting campuses ready to reopen Oct. 3, five weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit. Many of the worries remain.

The first challenge was communication. “We left that Friday [before the hurricane] thinking this storm was headed to Florida,” says Superintendent Diane Roussel. “It took a good three to four days … just to find key personnel.”

“It was like 1975,” says Jeff Nowakowski, the district’s spokesman, “with no...