San Antonio ISD announced that the school will be open, and they are prepared for the winter chill this week.
In a statement obtained by KSAT, the district told parents and staff that they have put additional measures in place to prepare for the colder weather that is set to last from Tuesday through Friday.
The statement reads, in part, “We encourage you to have your child dress in layers. As a reminder, you can check bus route times using our bus stop locator. Additionally, in response to the weather forecast, our heated buses will pick up students on the regular schedule, and we will run additional heated buses to reduce wait times."
SAISD also said they have put winterization protocols in place, including:
- Insulating exterior piping
- Purchasing and distributing 750 control units
- Monitoring and assessing building conditions prior to school start through District Control System
- Having Technicians, Facilities Managers and Customer Service Centers available at 4 a.m. to ensure communication is available
- Modifying buildings' automated schedules to 24/7
The full statement reads:
Dear Families and Staff,
At this time, our schools will be open tomorrow through Friday. Information from the National Weather Service and the City of San Antonio Office of Emergency Management indicate that no precipitation is expected this week. According to this forecast, roads should be safe for travel.
We know and understand that early notification allows you to make informed travel and childcare decisions.
We encourage you to have your child dress in layers. As a reminder, you can check bus route times using our bus stop locator. Additionally, in response to the weather forecast, our heated buses will pick up students on the regular schedule, and we will run additional heated buses to reduce wait times.
In preparation, we have implemented our winterization protocols. We have performed the following inclement weather actions:
Despite all of these efforts, the age and condition of our buildings makes our systems work harder and makes it more difficult to evenly cool and heat the buildings. Therefore, all principals have comprehensive mitigation plans to ensure that schools can respond proactively in the event of HVAC issues. Mitigation plans include moving to an alternate location, such as the library, cafeteria, gym, or any other unoccupied space.
We deeply appreciate your understanding and patience as we navigate the challenges posed by extreme weather conditions and the unique needs of our facilities. Your support and flexibility allow us to focus on providing safe and comfortable learning environments for our students and staff.
Thank you for being a vital part of our SAISD community. Together, we will continue to overcome challenges and prioritize the well-being and success of our students.
In service,
Jaime Aquino, Ph.D.
Superintendent
San Antonio ISD
Last month, SAISD had chosen to stay closed during a winter freeze.
The district had said this was due to safety concerns for students waiting at bus stops or walking to school.
However, internal records obtained by KSAT show 34 boilers at 21 SAISD campuses were offline or not operational when the decision was made to close campuses.
Related coverage on KSAT:
