The chill in San Antonio schools has lifted as heating systems have been fixed, allowing San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) to reopen its doors yesterday. The district was thrust into the cold last week when malfunctioning heating systems forced it to cancel classes. Now, after a swift response that brought together various city entities and other school districts, SAISD students and staff are back in the classrooms. According to MSN, Superintendent Jaime Aquino thanked the joint efforts of contractors, government agencies and volunteers that worked diligently to restore the heating systems.
Amid the aftermath of the heating debacle, SAISD is pushing forward, with 85% attendance yesterday. In the wake of the crisis, Chief Operations Officer Michael Eaton and Deputy Superintendent of Operations Dr. Kenneth Thompson resigned from their positions. Superintendent Dr. Jaime Aquino, in a statement obtained by Fox San Antonio, announced that new accountability measures will be implemented within the district. Dr. Aquino reassured families that, "What I want to emphasize all our students are in learning spaces that are comfortable."
The all-hands-on-deck repair initiative included 50 technicians who visited and, in some cases, fixed the broken HVAC systems. The district also armed schools with 11 climate control units as a precaution. Toni Thompson, District Chief of Staff, detailed contigency plans to Fox San Antonio, saying, "We will either need to be managed by recouping the time by using bad weather days or by extending the school day by 5 or 10 minutes you know for a period of time." SAISD is also seeking an attendance waiver from the state to offset the financial impact due to the forced absences last week.
However, not all reports signal complete resolution. An anonymous teacher expressed concerns to Fox San Antonio about the effectiveness of the rented heaters, claiming, "the only heat really happening is in the main office area where you first enter the school." Likewise, Alejandra Lopez, President of the San Antonio Alliance which represents around 2,000 district employees, told Fox San Antonio that while the situation isn't perfect, it's not for the district's lack of trying.
Despite initial setbacks during one of the city's coldest periods, SAISD's concentrated efforts have paved the way for the resumption of normal school activities. The district continues to strive for fully functional and comfortable learning environments for all their students and staff, in the midst of challenges old and new.
