Damaged Houston ISD schools delayed at least 1 more week

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Friday, September 8, 2017
Damaged HISD schools delayed at least 1 more week
Some damaged HSID schools will not reopen for at least another week.

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Students at multiple damaged Houston ISD schools will not start classes until later in the month as the state's largest school district continues to assess damage from Hurricane Harvey.

Superintendent Richard Carranza announced Thursday that the first wave of students at more than 200 schools will return to class on Monday, Sept. 11, as originally announced.

Additional schools will reopen on Monday, Sept. 18.

On its website, HISD has a tool where families can search for start dates for each campus.

HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza announces that most schools will start Monday.

Nine HISD schools will not open at all this school year, and those students will resume classes at other locations on Monday, Sept. 25:

  • Askew Elementary: Students will attend a location to be determined, with students starting Sept. 25.
  • Burbank Middle: Students will attend a location to be determined, with students starting Sept. 25.
  • Braeburn Elementary, Students will attend the former DeBakey HS campus, 3100 Shenandoah St. Houston, TX 77021, starting Sept. 25.
  • Hilliard Elementary: Students will attend the former Chatham ES campus, 8110 Bertwood St., Houston, TX 77016, starting Sept. 25.
  • Kolter Elementary: Students will attend the former Mandarin Chinese Immersion campus, 6300 Avenue B Bellaire, TX 77401, starting Sept. 25.
  • Liberty High: Students will begin evening/afternoon program at Wisdom High School, 6529 Beverly Hill St. Houston, TX 77057, starting Sept. 25.
  • Mitchell Elementary: Students will attend the former Rhoads ES campus, 4103 Brisbane St. Houston, TX 77047, starting Sept. 25.
  • Robinson Elementary: Students will attend Holland MS, 1600 Gellhorn Houston, TX 77029, starting Sept. 25.
  • Scarborough Elementary: Students will attend the former Fonwood ES campus, 10719 Seneca St., Houston, TX 77016, starting Sept. 25.

The district is working on flexible enrollment arrangements for students whose living situation was impacted by the storm. Teachers will also undergo crisis and trauma training to support students.

Principals at all schools will be in touch with their staff about return-to-work arrangements. Teachers will get a work day before students return.

Sanjuana Bujanza grandson attends one of those schools.

"It's hard," Bujanza. "It's hard because I have him and the two babies."

It's not just an extended vacation she's dealing with -- Harvey spilled water inside her home.

"For us that our neighborhood got flooded, it's bad enough that we lost a whole lot," Bujanza said.

Leah Zavala's two kids go to Scarborough Elementary. While she'd like to see them return Monday, she's looking at the bright side.

After her home got six inches of water, it gives her two extra set of hands.

"There is nothing I can do," Zavala said. "I guess they can stay here and help me clean."

HISD has assessed all of its 306 properties around the area. Every single facility experienced impacts of some sort, Carranza said, and the district continues to monitor air quality where necessary.

"We will not compromise the safety of either staff or students," Carranza said.

As students and their families work to recover from the storm, HISD will waive uniform requirements until January and offer each student three free hot meals per day all year.