HISD schools now back in session after Hurricane Harvey delays

HOUSTON, TX - Class is back in session for many students in the Houston-area. HISD has been preparing in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. It's been a logistical nightmare for the district with hundreds of schools needing repairs and thousands of students displaced because of the widespread flooding, but they do have a plan.  

The district has more than 200 thousand students and there was some sort of damage at most of the more than 280 schools. Some of those schools won't be repaired for the next two weeks so there will be a rolling start to the school year. Most schools start today, but others will start tomorrow. Others that will need more time for repairs will begin on the September 18th, and the last set of the most severely damaged schools, on September 25th. About nine schools still won't be ready by the 25th, so those schools will have to meet at other campuses for a while.

For students starting today, there will be counselors, a relaxed uniform policy and what the superintendent has called, a lot of flexibility. Thousands of HISD students and their families are in shelters or other accommodations outside of the school in which they're enrolled. Some children will be allowed to go to whichever school is closest. HISD Superintendent, Richard Carranza said,

"It's almost impossible for them to be able to get to school. They will be able to enroll in another school. Once their circumstance changes, they will still have their seat at school--so that's the kind of flexibility that we're talking about."

Metro is offering free rides for students during the entire month of September. Parents escorting kids to school may also ride free. The superintendent has a packed schedule today to welcome students back at different schools.