HISD crews working ‘around the clock’ to repair storm damage

Like many Houstonians, the state’s largest public school system is recovering from Hurricane Beryl. The Category 1 storm that hit Southeast Texas last week “significantly impacted” dozens of campuses, district officials said, prompting major repairs ahead of the 2024-25 school year.

The Houston School District reported that 200 of the district’s 274 campuses lost power because of Beryl; 50 were hit by fallen trees and 60 suffered roof or structural damage. Houston School District spokesman Jose Irizarry told the Chron Thursday that about 20 campuses still do not have power.

“Many of our schools have suffered minor damage, some have suffered more significant damage. Our facilities team along with outside crews have been working around the clock to get campuses back up and ready to welcome students,” Irizarry said.

Currently, the most affected schools are Sinclair Elementary School in the Timbergrove neighborhood, Cage Elementary School and the Project Chrysalis Middle School Joint Campus near the East End, and Kelso Elementary School in south Houston.

In recent months, the Texas coast and the Houston area have been repeatedly hit by severe weather. Sinclair Elementary School is still recovering from damage caused by May’s sudden derecho storm, which killed at least four people and knocked out power to more than a million people in Harris County, according to HISD officials.

“We are doing everything we can to have these campuses ready for the start of the school year on Aug. 12,” Irizarry said. “Campus leaders will be reaching out to families on these campuses in the coming days and weeks to share updates on the resumption and to share details on any impacts from the storm damage on the first day of school.” It is not yet known whether repairs will be made when students return to class in less than a month.

Kelso and Cage elementary schools are among 53 campuses that would be rebuilt or renovated under the proposed $4.4 billion bond. The state-appointed board is set to vote Aug. 8 on whether to put the bond on the November ballot. If approved, the bond would spend $2.05 billion on renovating and modernizing the schools.