Some Vermilion schools placed on partial lockdown after inmate reportedly escapes from parish jail; superintendent says move is precautionary

Vermilion Parish Superintendent Jerome Puyau confirmed that schools in Abbeville and Erath, as well as LeBlanc Elementary and Seventh Ward Elementary have been placed on partial lockdown.
Puyau stressed that the partial lockdown is precautionary.
The move came in the wake of reports that an inmate escaped from the Vermilion Parish Correction Center Friday morning. No further details have been made available about that incident.
“We are on partial lockdown,” Puyau said. “It is school as usual, except that all exterior doors are locked and all classrooms are locked. All teachers and administrators are on high alert.”
Puyau said the school system received an alert from the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office.
“It was done quickly,” Puyau said. “We appreciate the quick response from the Sheriff’s Office in notifying us.
“This is about keeping our students safe and we went into immediate action.”