Fort Bend Sun - News
EXPENSIVE ENDEAVORS
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| Hurricane Ike damaged the roof of Christa McAuliffe Middle School. The students are now attending classes at Willowridge High School. |
By DIANE TEZENO
Repairs needed to restore Fort Bend Independent School District campuses as a result of damages from Hurricane Ike will carry a hefty price tag for the district.
According to assessments by administrators presented at Monday night’s school board meeting, area campuses have suffered $4.2 million in damages throughout the district, a figure that is expected to rise.
District administrators provided an update on the condition of schools at the Sept. 22 school board meeting.
According to information presented, as of Sept. 22 power was restored on all campuses, excluding one school in the district closed for repairs.
Power at Briargate and Ridgegate elementary schools was restored on Sept. 22, but parents and students were not notified in time to return to school on Sept. 23. Students instead returned for regular classes on Sept. 24.
The most damaging effects from Hurricane Ike in the district was felt at Christa McAuliffe Middle School.
The campus suffered extensive interior and exterior damage, resulting in more than $1 million in estimated repairs.
The roof of the middle school was damaged in the storm and must be replaced, forcing the school to close and students to relocate to nearby Willowridge High School, based on a decision by district administrators.
McAuliffe middle school students will remain on the high school campus through the end of the fall semester as repairs are made.
Combined attendance from the merger of the schools will bring total capacity on the Willowridge campus to 2,117 students, which is 154 students under the school’s design capacity and 17 students above the school’s functional capacity, according to district administrators.
Other storm-related issues at district campuses included repairs to the air conditioning system at Baines Middle School; water damage, broken windows and cafeteria computer problems at First Colony Middle School; a broken water line and air conditioning problems at Hodges Bend Middle School.
At Sugar Land Middle School, students experienced delays during lunch due to problems with cafeteria computer scanning equipment damaged in the storm.
Clements High School lost computer connectivity in its temporary buildings; Hightower High School suffered minor roof damage, buckling of the stage in the auditorium and water damage to the school’s four temporary buildings; Dulles High School experienced problems with its computer network and air conditioning system.
Elkins High School lost its baseball dugout and skylight panels in its commons area, while Marshall High School experienced damage from minor roof leaks and damage to the softball field scoreboard and lights on its football field.
MR Wood experienced problems with an air conditioning chiller and Progressive High School had problems with phones and computers.
Most elementary school campuses in the district experienced minor issues related to the storm, such as missing ceiling tiles and water leaks.
Hodges Bend Middle School students were released from school around noon on Sept. 22 because of a water line leak and problems with the air conditioning system.
The school, slated to reopen on Sept. 23, remained closed because of continuing problems resulting from the storm. Parents and students awaited notice, via the district’s messenger system, regarding the school’s status.
Average attendance at the nine area high schools open on Sept. 22 was 91 percent, according to Mike McKie, assistant superintendent for high schools.
Lawrence Hindt, assistant superintendent for middle schools, cited an average attendance rate of 90 percent at the 11 area middle school campuses open Monday.
At elementary school campuses, attendance averaged 90 percent, per Dr. Marc Smith, assistant superintendent for elementary schools.
At the 22 campuses overseen by Dr. Susan Wey, assistant superintendent for elementary schools, conditions were “good to go” as principals at the schools prepared for a return to classes.
Superintendent Timothy Jenney commended district staff for “rolling up their sleeves” during the recovery phase following Hurricane Ike.
Board trustee Steve Smelley called the efforts of district staff “nothing short of phenomenal,” a sentiment echoed by other board members.
Board trustee Laurie Caldwell also commended district staff, adding that “I am so proud of each of you for stepping up.”
“Any corporation would love to have a team that speaks so well of one another and that works so well together,” said one board member of the district’s recovery efforts.
According to assessments by administrators presented at Monday night’s school board meeting, area campuses have suffered $4.2 million in damages throughout the district, a figure that is expected to rise.
District administrators provided an update on the condition of schools at the Sept. 22 school board meeting.
According to information presented, as of Sept. 22 power was restored on all campuses, excluding one school in the district closed for repairs.
Power at Briargate and Ridgegate elementary schools was restored on Sept. 22, but parents and students were not notified in time to return to school on Sept. 23. Students instead returned for regular classes on Sept. 24.
The most damaging effects from Hurricane Ike in the district was felt at Christa McAuliffe Middle School.
The campus suffered extensive interior and exterior damage, resulting in more than $1 million in estimated repairs.
The roof of the middle school was damaged in the storm and must be replaced, forcing the school to close and students to relocate to nearby Willowridge High School, based on a decision by district administrators.
McAuliffe middle school students will remain on the high school campus through the end of the fall semester as repairs are made.
Combined attendance from the merger of the schools will bring total capacity on the Willowridge campus to 2,117 students, which is 154 students under the school’s design capacity and 17 students above the school’s functional capacity, according to district administrators.
Other storm-related issues at district campuses included repairs to the air conditioning system at Baines Middle School; water damage, broken windows and cafeteria computer problems at First Colony Middle School; a broken water line and air conditioning problems at Hodges Bend Middle School.
At Sugar Land Middle School, students experienced delays during lunch due to problems with cafeteria computer scanning equipment damaged in the storm.
Clements High School lost computer connectivity in its temporary buildings; Hightower High School suffered minor roof damage, buckling of the stage in the auditorium and water damage to the school’s four temporary buildings; Dulles High School experienced problems with its computer network and air conditioning system.
Elkins High School lost its baseball dugout and skylight panels in its commons area, while Marshall High School experienced damage from minor roof leaks and damage to the softball field scoreboard and lights on its football field.
MR Wood experienced problems with an air conditioning chiller and Progressive High School had problems with phones and computers.
Most elementary school campuses in the district experienced minor issues related to the storm, such as missing ceiling tiles and water leaks.
Hodges Bend Middle School students were released from school around noon on Sept. 22 because of a water line leak and problems with the air conditioning system.
The school, slated to reopen on Sept. 23, remained closed because of continuing problems resulting from the storm. Parents and students awaited notice, via the district’s messenger system, regarding the school’s status.
Average attendance at the nine area high schools open on Sept. 22 was 91 percent, according to Mike McKie, assistant superintendent for high schools.
Lawrence Hindt, assistant superintendent for middle schools, cited an average attendance rate of 90 percent at the 11 area middle school campuses open Monday.
At elementary school campuses, attendance averaged 90 percent, per Dr. Marc Smith, assistant superintendent for elementary schools.
At the 22 campuses overseen by Dr. Susan Wey, assistant superintendent for elementary schools, conditions were “good to go” as principals at the schools prepared for a return to classes.
Superintendent Timothy Jenney commended district staff for “rolling up their sleeves” during the recovery phase following Hurricane Ike.
Board trustee Steve Smelley called the efforts of district staff “nothing short of phenomenal,” a sentiment echoed by other board members.
Board trustee Laurie Caldwell also commended district staff, adding that “I am so proud of each of you for stepping up.”
“Any corporation would love to have a team that speaks so well of one another and that works so well together,” said one board member of the district’s recovery efforts.
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