According to the letter from SISD Superintendent Rodney Watson, which was sent to district families and staff Feb. 19, the decision to delay returning to campus was made to allow families and employees more recovery time, while also allowing time for district officials to get campuses repaired for students.
"At the end of a very long difficult week for our Spring ISD community, we wanted to let you know that our hearts go out to everyone who has struggled without water or power, or who suffered damage to their homes from broken pipes," Watson wrote in the letter. "We understand how difficult the past week has been for our entire community and we are here to support you and your family."
According to SISD Communications Officer Sylvia Wood, exterior pipes burst at Burchett Elementary School and Bailey Middle School due to the storm, so both of those campuses will not have water until the pipes are able to be repaired. Additionally, Wood said both boilers failed at Twin Creeks Middle School, leaving the campus without heat.
While Spring High School and Thompson and Lewis elementary schools had minor water damage from the storm, Wood added that damages to those campuses have since been repaired.
To allow time for these repairs, SISD has outlined the following plan for next week:
- Monday, Feb. 22: All campuses and district offices will be closed, and no in-person or remote classes will be held. Employees should not report to work.
- Tuesday, Feb. 23: All campuses will be closed, and no in-person or remote classes will be held. Teachers and students will have the day off; however, any employees on a 226-day contract should report to their office/worksite.
- Wednesday, Feb. 24: Teachers will return to campus, but all students will participate in the remote asynchronous learning day that was previously scheduled. Teachers at Bailey and Burchett elementary schools and Twin Creeks Middle School will work from home.
- Thursday, Feb. 25, and Friday, Feb. 26: All district operations will return to a normal schedule, and both in-person and virtual students will report to their classes. However, students and teachers at Bailey and Burchett elementary schools and Twin Creeks Middle School will participate in remote synchronous learning on both of these days.
Additionally, the letter states curbside meal service will resume Feb. 22 at all regular locations—except for Bailey Middle School.
"We hope this will provide families who have not had water, or who lost food during the power outages, some relief," Watson wrote in the letter.
SISD students, staff and parents are encouraged to continue to monitor the district's website and social media accounts, such as Facebook and Twitter, for additional updates.
