First Day Of School Uncertain For Houston ISD

HISD is currently scheduled to reopen Tuesday but Superintendent Richard Carranza says they will decide later this week if that will change.

By Laura IsenseeSeptember 6, 2017 10:08 am, , , ,

From Houston Public Media:

This week was supposed to be the start of a new school year for Houston public schools. But now the superintendent is trying to figure out when school can restart, as many buildings and neighborhoods are flooded and thousands of children are scattered in shelters.

Houston ISD is currently scheduled to reopen Tuesday but Superintendent Richard Carranza says they will decide later this week if that will change.

Carranza says that they are visiting all the school buildings they can, to see how much damage they suffered. He says they’re also checking on teachers to see who’s able to come back to work. All this week Carranza says he’s been getting advice from other school chiefs who’ve dealt with crises in places like New Orleans.

“Number one you just have to accept the fact that post the tragedy that you know things will be in disarray and it may be in disarray for months because we’re a microcosm of the greater city,” says Carranza.

At the same time Carranza pledges the school year won’t be lost.

“We’re going to do what we have to do to serve our students where they are,” he says.

That may mean school buses picking up kids from shelters. Carranza says the district might consolidate some schools while they repair damaged facilities.