The Houston Independent School District Board of Education held a special meeting this afternoon to discuss several items related to Hurricane Harvey. The Board voted unanimously to approve the following items:

• Authorization for HISD for purchasing during crisis
• Approval of current and future donations to the HISD Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund
• Authorization for Superintendent Richard Carranza to accept a $1 million donation for the HISD Foundation from a private donor for the district’s relief effort
• Approval for hourly workers to be compensated for the time Harvey forced schools to be closed
• Superintendent Carranza also updated the Board and the public about damage to HISD facilities. Of the nearly 200 schools our crews have been able to get to so far, he says almost all of them have some water intrusion. The district hopes to have all school sites assessed by midnight.

Central office staff and principals will return on Tuesday, Sept. 5. Teachers will return for a work day on Friday, Sept. 8. And students are scheduled to return on Monday, Sept. 11.

“Now it’s time to roll up our sleeves and welcome our babies,” said Board President Trustee Wanda Adams.