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In Superintendent Tommy Byler’s video update, he informed parents, students, and school employees that they would begin transitioning from a hybrid (A-B) schedule to full-time schedule.
For most of the school year, the high school and middle schools have been in a hybrid model, but by Feb. 5, the plan is to have the students attending full time.
He explained because of the safety issues the parish has put in place to ensure that students and staff are safe, he is confident the school district can get back to face to face learning. He assured parents and students that the district would not be making this decision to return to school if it wasn’t confident in its protocols and staff’s ability to enforce and follow those protocols.
The district will take at least four days to transition back to face-to-face learning slowly.
This Monday and Tuesday, all sixth graders and ninth graders will report back to school full time.
The rest of the students on the “A” schedule will report to school on Monday, and those on the “B” schedule will report on Tuesday.
Then on Wednesday and Thursday, all seventh and 10th graders, along with sixth graders and ninth-graders, will be reporting to school full time.
On Thursday, eighth, 11th, and 12th graders who are on the “B” schedule will report to school.
On Friday, Feb. 5, all middle school and high school students will report back to school.
The week of Feb. 8, everyone is back in school, hopefully for the rest of the school year.

By Derek Draplin |
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order halting new leases for oil and natural gas development on federal land, a move criticized by the industry and some state governors.
“We’re going to review and reset the oil and gas leasing program,” Biden said Wednesday at the White House.
Biden said his administration is going to "properly manage lands and waterways in ways that allow us to protect, preserve them and the full value that they provide for us for future generations," adding that his administration won’t ban fracking.
The administration cites greenhouse gas emissions and “irresponsible leasing” that negatively affects communities as the reason for the order, which won’t affect existing oil and gas development on federal land and doesn’t apply to tribal land.
The lease moratorium, which also applies to offshore leases, expands a secretarial order signed last week suspending new land leases and drilling permits for 60 days unless approved by Department of Interior (DOI) leadership. It’s also part of broader executive actions Biden took on Wednesday.
The executive actions establish an Office of Domestic Climate Policy in the White House along with a National Climate Task Force. Biden is also directing DOI to establish a plan that will conserve 30% of the country’s land and water by 2030.
The executive order poses a threat to revenue and jobs in an economy that’s already struggling, industry groups and officials in states that rely heavily on tax revenue from oil and gas development said ahead of the executive actions.
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon called the Biden administration’s actions “misguided” on Tuesday amidst reports of the leasing moratorium.
“It is disingenuous, disheartening and a crushing blow to the economies of many Western States, particularly Wyoming. No matter how it is framed, this action is still a ban on leasing.”
Gordon warned that the lost revenue may mean the state will have “to increase the costs of doing business on other energy sources to balance our budget.”
Wyoming and its local governments received $1.67 billion from the oil and gas industry in 2019, and employed over 19,000 people, according to the Wyoming Energy Authority.
A federal lease moratorium would result in a $639.7 billion hit to gross domestic product (GDP) in Wyoming, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Montana, North Dakota, California, and Alaska by 2040, according to a report commissioned by the Wyoming Legislature.
Larry Behrens, western states director for Power The Future, a group that advocates for energy jobs, said the order is “a gift to countries like China, Russia and Saudi Arabia at the expense of New Mexico’s working families.”
Behrens added that in New Mexico, energy jobs “are at the lowest point in over a decade.”
“That’s why it’s even more critical that New Mexico’s leaders pursue an exemption from Biden’s orders immediately," he added.
In Louisiana, over 7,000 oil and gas jobs in the state have been lost during the pandemic, according to the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, which said the lease moratorium is "a tremendous blow."
The oil and gas industry accounts for 30% of Louisiana’s gross domestic product, and 90% of the state’s annual production comes from the Gulf of Mexico, according to the business group.
“At a time when the federal government is borrowing and spending at an all-time high, writing off the billions of dollars the nation receives each year from energy production on federal lands seems especially misguided and ill-timed,” LABI President and CEO Stephen Waguespack said in a statement.
Years ago, Louisiana and the oil and natural gas industry had the foresight to create a reliable, ongoing stream of revenue to build and protect Louisiana’s coast. When safe oil and natural gas exploration occurs in the Gulf of Mexico, money is generated that goes directly to funding vital coastal projects in our communities. All in conjunction with Louisiana’s Coastal Master Plan, the world’s largest climate adaptation program.
Marc Ehrhardt, executive director of Grow Louisiana Coalition, also criticized the decision.
“The Biden Administration’s announcement of a moratorium on new oil and gas lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico hurts Louisiana’s coast. It doesn’t help it," Ehrardt said. "Years ago, Louisiana and the oil and natural gas industry had the foresight to create a reliable, ongoing stream of revenue to build and protect Louisiana’s coast. When safe oil and natural gas exploration occurs in the Gulf of Mexico, money is generated that goes directly to funding vital coastal projects in our communities. All in conjunction with Louisiana’s Coastal Master Plan, the world’s largest climate adaptation program.
"This executive order takes no steps forward," Ehrardt continued. "It is a giant step back for the hundreds of thousands of Louisianians working in the energy industry and for our working coast that needs the reliable funding that the energy industry’s work provides.
Other states, like Colorado, welcomed Biden’s climate actions and pledge to work with his administration.
“We will also work closely with the Biden administration as they begin a program-wide review of energy development policy on public lands to ensure that it works for Colorado,” Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement. “And as long as the review is completed expeditiously we don’t expect an economic impact in the short-term with current market factors and the many existing unused leases and permits.”
Environmental advocacy groups praised the moratorium along with the administration’s broader efforts on fighting climate change.
“Hitting pause on oil and gas leasing is a crucial first step toward reforming a rigged and broken system that for too long has put oil and gas lobbyists ahead of the American people,” said Jesse Prentice-Dunn, policy director for the Denver, Colo.-based Center for Western Priorities.
The Sierra Club said the lease moratorium “will improve the health of our communities, our climate and our wild places.”
“We look forward to working with the Biden administration to secure lasting solutions that address the climate impacts of coal, oil and gas leasing and put in place long-overdue protections for communities, taxpayers, and the climate,” said Athan Manuel, the Sierra Club’s director of Public Lands Protection.

January 3, 1960 ~ January 26, 2021

Abbeville - A private service will be held for Mark Wayne Matthews, 61, who died Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at his residence.
He loved to spend time working on his farm and enjoyed riding cutting horses.
He is survived by his two sisters, Darlene Neveaux and Paulette Breaux; two brothers, John Matthews and James Matthews; uncle, James Comeaux; nephew, Nick Matthews; niece, Mollie Broussard; and two great nephews, Ethan Matthews and Grant Broussard.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Raywood Joseph Matthews and the former Arlene Comeaux; paternal grandparents, Claby Matthews and the former Edmay Noel; and maternal grandparents, Hune Comeaux and the former Hettie Hoffpauir.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Abbeville, (337) 893-4661.

By Bethany Blankley |
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – In response to the Biden administration suspending new oil and gas leases on federal land for 60 days, oil and gas companies in the South and Southwest warned that doing so would impact hundreds of thousands of jobs and destroy the economy of some states.
Under the new Biden Administration, the Acting Interior Secretary signed a 60-day Temporary Suspension of Delegated Authority, which among other directives suspends the issuance of federal onshore and offshore oil and natural gas leasing permits.
“Should this action become permanent, it would be devastating to jobs, communities and economies nationwide and would set back tremendous environmental progress,” the Texas Oil & Gas Association (TXOGA) said.
Power The Future-New Mexico called on New Mexican leaders to oppose the decision, arguing it was the first of many to ultimately implement a permanent ban.
The TXOGA, the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association (LMOGA) and the American Petroleum Institute (API) released an analysis last year warning that
suspending leases would cost 200,000 jobs in the Gulf Coast region alone.
The offshore Gulf of Mexico accounts for over 15 percent of U.S. oil production, and researchers found that local economies in the Gulf Coast region would be among the hardest hit areas with more than 200,000 job losses by 2022 and millions of dollars in reduced revenue.
In New Mexico, roughly half of the state’s oil and gas production occurs on federal land. Banning it “would be nothing short of devastating to New Mexico’s energy workers and the state’s economy,” Power the Future says.
“If New Mexico’s leaders care about our jobs and our economy, they will immediately begin the process of seeking relief including securing a waiver, from President Biden’s anti-energy agenda,” Larry Behrens, Western States Director for Power The Future, said. “This decision is going to destroy jobs and erode revenue needed for our schools, police and infrastructure. New Mexico’s leaders need to stand up for our working families and protect them from disastrous decisions coming out of Washington.”
Last September, a spokeswoman for New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said it was “premature” to discuss a waiver from a potential Biden federal ban. Now, Power the Future argues the state must seek a waiver.
A recent study projected a ban would result in a loss of 62,000 jobs in New Mexico by the end of next year and jeopardize over $1 billion in state revenue.
According to a report published by The Hill, the order to establish a permanent moratorium would require the signature of New Mexican Congresswoman Deb Haaland, Biden’s pick to lead the Department of the Interior.
“Any action to restrict oil and gas activity in the United States only serves to reward other countries who do not share our commitment to environmental leadership and undercuts American energy security,” the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association told The Center Square.
“Oil and gas development on federal lands is a critical part of New Mexico’s economy, and restricting activity here risks the loss of more than 60,000 jobs and $800 million in support for our public schools, first responders, and healthcare services. New Mexico’s oil and gas producers are fully committed to fighting climate change and stand ready and willing to work with the Biden administration to drive environmental progress and keep responsible energy production moving forward across our country.”
Todd Staples, president of TXOGA, agrees, arguing that banning such development “not only threatens thousands of the best-paying jobs but needlessly erases much needed revenue that helps pay for schools and other essential services.”
He added, "American oil and natural gas is safe, clean and abundant, and misguided policies will only stifle our nation’s energy and environmental progress."
A TXOGA, LMOGA and API analysis found that banning leasing on federal land would costs states in the Gulf Coast region more than $223 million annually in revenue, including $65 million for Texas, $95 million for Louisiana, $31 million for Alabama and $32 million for Mississippi.
Texas, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi could lose more than $22 million in funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the report found.
Offshore production for natural gas would decrease by 68 percent and for oil by 44 percent and U.S. oil imports from foreign sources would increase by 2 million barrels a day, the report estimated.
Nearly one million American jobs would be lost by 2022, including more than 200,000 jobs in the Gulf Coast region, the groups estimate, including nearly 120,000 jobs lost in Texas, more than 48,000 jobs in Louisiana, nearly 21,000 jobs in Alabama, and 14,000 jobs in Mississippi.
"The oil and natural gas industry is producing energy in cleaner and more efficient ways than 10 to 15 years ago all while producing more affordable and reliable energy to power our daily lives," Staples added. "Increased use of natural gas is the number one reason U.S. power sector carbon dioxide emissions have fallen 33% since 2007. Innovations in oil and natural gas development will continue to lead the way in environmental progress and smart, science-based policies must be in place to ensure a cleaner, stronger and better energy future here and across the globe."