HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Schools across HISD are scrambling to ensure their campuses are safe and ready for the first day of class on Monday after being battered by recent storms.
“This year, the start of school really snuck up on us due to the weather issues,” said Steve Bermudez, a parent at Marshall Middle School.
was on-site as volunteers gathered to clear storm debris from Marshall Middle School. However, during the cleanup, additional potentially hazardous conditions were discovered.
One concerning find was a downed light pole with exposed wires located near a common area shared by the school and a public library. Families of Marshall Middle students reported being bounced between CenterPoint Energy and Public Works, receiving conflicting information about whether the wires are live and who is responsible for addressing the issue.
When ABC13 contacted 311, they were told it was a CenterPoint issue. ABC13 then reached out to CenterPoint to see if the problem could be resolved before the start of school.
“They could touch it because it’s exposed, which would be very dangerous,” Bermudez warned.
Sinclair Elementary was one of the hardest-hit schools during the storms, and parents were there on Friday to meet the teachers.
“We’re excited but a little anxious as we’ll be experiencing our first drop-off on Monday,” said Matthew Peterson, a parent at Sinclair Elementary.
While the storm damage is still visible on the exterior of the building, families reported that the main building appears to be in good condition.
“They’ve done a great job reassuring us that they’ll be ready to welcome all students on the first day, and they’ve kept that promise,” Peterson added.
With the first day of school just days away, families are hoping that all campuses will be operational and safe.
“Based on the cleanup efforts, I’m hoping the internal work is much better than what we’re seeing outside,” said Bermudez.
