San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) took drastic measures this week, shuttering all school campuses on Thursday and Friday to undertake building checks and repairs, after an arctic blast left most with significant heating system failures. Superintendent Dr. Jaime Aquino expressed regret for the oversight, stating, "I take full responsibility for making the wrong call." as reported by KSAT.
The closure follows a previous announcement by the district that 20 schools would close today due to similar issues. However, this number increased to 31 as the day progressed. Schools, including Ball Elementary and Lanier High School, had to dismiss students early for the warmth of their homes instead of the cold classrooms. According to a statement scripted by Aquino to parents yesterday, absences won't count against the kids, and the Facilities staff were on-site where needed, working quickly to restore heat.
As reported by Fox San Antonio, SAISD's action plan amid the cold snap also included provision of curbside meals to affected students between noon and 1 p.m., ensuring they were provided for amidst the closures; school staff recorded student names and grades at pick-up, with students themselves not required to be present during this exchange.
Parents and students alike were vocal about the biting cold inside school buildings, some of which were reportedly colder than the outside air, impeding the focus on schoolwork with a majority just trying to stay warm, parents like Salvador Huerta lamented not getting early word of the conditions, ensuring they would’ve prepared differently, "How was school today?" asked KSAT's John Paul Barajas to one student, to which the chilly yet frank reply came, "It was good, just very cold inside," and another parent added, "They should let us know, I would have just let him stay home if I knew it was that cold," showcasing the communication breakdown between district and family, as reported by KSAT.
Meanwhile, other districts such as Goliad ISD, Luling ISD, and Comfort ISD, tackled the freeze with a more subtle approach, opting for a two-hour delay on school start times, communicated clearly to account for the temperature drop. The winner here was transparency, a genetic trait in short supply across SAISD's handling of the extreme weather ramifications, proving once more that in crisis, it's not only the response but also the communication of it that defines leadership.
