Harvey: Houston ISD Preparing Schools To Reopen Sept. 11

HOUSTON, TX — Anywhere between 10,000 to 12,000 Houston students will temporarily need to be moved to new schools owing to damage from Hurricane Harvey, the Houston Independent School District said on Saturday.

The first day of school for HISD students is Sept. 11, weather and facility conditions permitting. Officials said on Saturday that HISD facilities have touched 245 schools so far and of those, 115 can be deep cleaned and ready to open on Sept. 11.

At least 53 schools have major damage and 22 have extensive damage. The remaining schools are being assessed. HISD has a total of 287 schools.

One of the schools with extensive damage is Hilliard Elementary School.

The school district also said there is always a chance for delay and school could start after Sept. 11.

“We are eager to get our students back into the classroom and learning. We want to provide the stability of a routine, as well as the three nutritious meals a day that so many of our families depend on,” HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza said in an earlier statement. “But we also need to be sure that our campuses are safe and that Houston’s infrastructure and roads are ready to handle transporting our students safely to school. Our team is currently assessing any damages to our more than 280 schools from Hurricane Harvey, and I want to thank them for their efforts.”

HISD has also relaxed its uniform policy until January 2018.

Photo: An empty classroom with water still on the floor is shown at A.G. Hillialrd Elementary School in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on Sept. 2. Photo by David J. Phillip/Associated Press