Tag Archives: Hurricane Harvey

HISD teachers can apply for ‘Harvey Relief’ grant 

Applications are due Friday, Sept. 29 

In response to the devastating damage left behind by Hurricane Harvey on HISD schools and across the city, philanthropists and corporations locally and nationally have come together to create a Harvey Relief Fund that is managed by the HISD Foundation. Funds raised will go directly to support HISD teachers to eliminate as much financial burden as possible in replacing damaged classroom resources so instructional time can be maximized.

Teachers are encouraged to submit an application for funding to cover the costs of replacing classroom supplies, technology, and other resources that were lost as a direct result of Hurricane Harvey. Applications will be accepted Friday, Sept. 22, through Friday, Sept. 29. 

Each applicant may be awarded up to $1,500. Partial or full grants may be awarded based on need, volume of applications, and available funds. Due to limited funds and the urgent needs of HISD teachers and students, all applications will be reviewed and awarded the week of Oct. 2, 2017.    Continue reading →

Fondren MS opens Fondren Pantry for students, community after Harvey 

Students at Fondren Middle School are launching a pantry for families in need, a year-long service that will serve as a community pantry for both students and families who were directly impacted by Hurricane Harvey.

The Fondren Pantry will be located on campus and will open to the community once a week to help ensure that all students have access to adequate food, toiletries, uniforms, and school supplies to help them be successful this year.

For those who wish to donate, these are the most-needed items:

  • Non-perishable food items
  • Uniforms: (khaki pants and solid white, gray, and black polo shirts)
  • Backpacks: (clear or mesh)
  • School supplies
  • Toiletries
  • Detergent and other essential household products.

For questions, please call Fondren MS at 713-778-3360.

HISD Foundation to offer grants for teachers impacted by Hurricane Harvey 

$100 gift cards distributed to teachers with delayed start dates

The HISD Foundation’s Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund has raised more than $1.3 million and the nonprofit group is wasting no time distributing the funds to support schools and staff that were most severely impacted by the storm.

On Friday, Sept 15, Foundation Director Ann Scott surprised those teachers still awaiting the start of school on their campus with a $100 gift card to either Office Depot, Crystal Children and Teacher Supply, or Lakeshore Learning. The amount of donated gift cards totaled nearly $37,000 and will be used by the teachers to redecorate their damaged classrooms or supply a new classroom in a different facility.

In addition, Scott announced that starting next week, the Foundation will begin offering grants of up to $1,000 to all HISD teachers who were impacted by Harvey.    Continue reading →

Trustees approve extended school day for 12 campuses, eliminate early dismissal days for all schools

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At its first regular Board meeting since Hurricane Harvey forced a delayed start to the school year, the Houston Independent School District Board of Education approved extended school days for 12 campuses to make up instructional time.

The Board also eliminated five early dismissal days scheduled throughout the school year for all campuses.

Download the revised 2017-2018 Academic Calendar

The Texas Education Agency approved waivers that exempt students from making up the first nine days of missed classes. However, students at 12 schools starting after Sept. 11 will have to make up lost time beyond those days.

“There is no perfect solution,” Superintendent Richard Carranza said. “And as we talked about over the course of this weather event, flexibility will be key. But we are also making sure the extra time is not just seat time.” Continue reading →

Supe embarks on marathon tour to welcome students, staff back after Harvey

On Sept. 11, the first day of school after Hurricane Harvey hit Houston on Aug. 26 and delayed the start of school in HISD, Superintendent Richard Carranza visited six schools to welcome back students and staff members. 

7:22 a.m.: Allison Acres Mobile Home Community

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On a cool, clear Monday morning, Superintendent Richard Carranza greeted two elementary students in south Houston at their bus stop, admiring their electronic sneakers and new backpacks and taking selfies with them for his Twitter page. He was impressed when he asked one of them for advice to pass on to his followers, and she said, “Don’t talk back to your teacher.” Carranza then boarded the bus with the students and rode with them to school, showing off the drawings they did for him when he arrived at Codwell Elementary. Continue reading →

Day 2 of free uniform distribution limited to one site

HISD, along with county and city officials, distributed close to 25,000 free school uniforms at seven sites across the city.  Due to the overwhelming response, the distribution has been narrowed down to one site for the second day.

Uniform distribution for Saturday, Sept. 9 will now happen from 9 a.m. – noon (or until supplies run out).

Denver Harbor Multi-Service Center
6402 Market Street
Houston, Tx. 77020
832-395-0895 Continue reading →

HISD to close community feeding sites launched in the wake of Hurricane Harvey

Feeding sites will close on Sunday evening after serving thousands of meals per day

The community feeding efforts launched by the Houston Independent School District in the wake of Hurricane Harvey will end on Sunday, Sept. 10, after serving between 8,000 to 10,000 free meals per day.

HISD’s Nutrition Services has been serving breakfast, lunch and dinner free of charge at nine sites since Saturday, Sept. 2. Meals have been available on a first-come, first-served basis to all community members. Additionally, volunteers from local churches, community centers and even apartment complexes delivered food to families that were unable to visit the locations due to transportation. Continue reading →

New HISD schools sustain minimal damage, set to open on Sept. 11

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After a two-week delay, nine new and rebuilt schools across the Houston Independent School District will open their doors to students for the first time on Monday, Sept. 11.

The schools sustained only minor damages during Hurricane Harvey and the resulting floods, and contractors were able to make any needed repairs while the district was closed due to inclement weather. Continue reading →

Volunteer to help HISD families and students recover from Harvey 

Volunteers help sort donated items at Delmar Fieldhouse.

Individuals and local organizations have an opportunity to help HISD students and families impacted by  Hurricane Harvey by volunteering at the district’s designated donation site.

Delmar Fieldhouse (2020 Mangum Road, Houston, TX 77092) will be receiving donations the week of Sept. 11 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Anyone interested in volunteering will need to sign-up by clicking here, and select the day and time they can volunteer.  Continue reading →

HISD implements rolling school start dates, will move students from most damaged schools to temporary locations

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The Houston Independent School District is implementing rolling start dates for the first day of school based on the level of flooding damage at campuses, and students from the schools most devastated by Hurricane Harvey will be relocated to temporary campuses.

“During Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans and the surrounding school districts took six months to open their schools,” said HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza. “Hurricane Harvey was just as destructive, and we’re attempting to open a much larger school district in two weeks.  Because of that, not everyone is going to start on September 11.”

Click here for an up-to-date database of school start dates. Please note that school start dates may change, so continue to monitor the list in the coming days and weeks.

Hurricane Harvey aftermath: FAQs

After completing an assessment of 306 school and office buildings in an area spanning 312 square miles, HISD has found that some schools have substantial damages and will require students to attend classes at nearby vacant school buildings or underutilized campuses. Below is a list of affected campuses. Students will have their first day of classes at new locations to be determined: Continue reading →