Some Houston ISD schools impacted by heating issues following arctic blast
HOUSTON - After school was cancelled due to the freeze on Tuesday, HISD students returned Wednesday only to sit in cold classrooms. Multiple schools reported not having heat and water.
Several schools were dismissed early on Wednesday due to the ongoing issues.
SUGGESTED: Schools reopening after closures caused by winter weather across Houston
Parents from more than a dozen HISD schools including Patrick Henry, Love, Port Houston, Cook, Pershing, Harvard, Heights and Askew said the schools were struggling to recover after the freeze.
HISD officials also confirmed that multiple schools had busted pipes.
Vicky Hauptman-Bryan, whose son attends Love Elementary, said she was frustrated that the district had zero communication with her.
"We were told by the teachers that the heating was out, and the kids still had to do testing this morning. The fact that they’re going to maybe use those scores as valid is insane to me. It was 48 degrees in my son’s classroom," Hauptman-Bryan said.
"It would’ve been nice to know ahead of time because the notice that they gave us was maybe 10 minutes before 1 p.m. that the school was closed at 1 p.m., and we really found out from the parent chat," said Catherine Peters, a Love Elementary parent.
HISD said emergency lunches were brought in to feed students at schools with no hot water.
Jaden Manley, a student at Pershing Middle School, said he was shivering during class Wednesday morning.
"It feels like 30 degrees. I'm over there napping after I finish the test. I woke up and I’m shivering. My legs, toes, permanently curled," Manley said.
"How long has it been out though, since they got here? At least let them out early," said Diana Rico, Manley's grandmother.
Sources sent FOX 26 a recording of HISD Superintendent Mike Miles telling staff during a private meeting he regretted closing schools Tuesday.
"We made a decision to close schools today. I’m not sure it was the best decision," Miles said.
A day later, Miles addressed the controversial comments and equated schools and teachers to first responders.
"Yesterday, I made some off the record remarks about essentialness. So let me go on the record and let me talk about essentialness. I believe we are an essential organization. I believe we need a culture of essentialness," Miles said.
More than a dozen school districts across the greater Houston area cancelled school on Tuesday because of the freezing temperatures and icy conditions.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire responded to Miles' comments during a separate interview Wednesday. He said HISD made the right decision to close.