In the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, parents and community members rallied to clean up Houston Independent School District campuses, ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for students before the new academic year. Despite challenges, including overgrown lawns and debris, volunteers demonstrated resilience and commitment to their children’s education.
HOUSTON— Even before the first day of the new academic year, Houston Independent School District (HISD) campuses have been cleaned up by a coalition of parents and community members in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. As students prepared to return to school, numerous schools still contended with detritus and overgrown lawns, prompting local volunteers to intervene.
Photo Source: HISD Website
The parents of T.H. Rogers School in Tanglewood convened on Saturday to remove debris and mow the grass. Pranjal Srivastava, a parent, conveyed her dissatisfaction with the campus's current condition, commenting, "What were they doing for the past two months?" The Beryl event occurred six weeks ago. Again, the administration appears unclear on its course of action and is not conducting appropriate planning.
To prepare campuses throughout the city, parents, employees, and community members have participated in pervasive cleanup initiatives. Community cleanups are not uncommon; however, numerous parents observed that the conditions were significantly worse this year, primarily as a result of the devastation caused by Hurricane Beryl in July. The father of a first-grader at T.H. Rogers, Andrew Goforth, expressed his concern, stating, "It does seem like something is missing if parents are required to arrive with the wheelbarrow, rakes, and brooms two days before school starts."
HISD trustee Savant Moore acknowledged the issue, stating that he had observed overgrown grass at numerous campuses, including Bellaire and Lamar High School. Moore shared, "I am advocating for this because we reside in a hurricane-prone region." She continued, "To enhance the district's preparedness for hurricanes, it is recommended that lawns be maintained more frequently."
Superintendent Mike Miles attributed The overgrown conditions to a damp July, stating, "We only had about two weeks since the hurricane to cut our grass well." He observed that certain schools initiated sanitation initiatives by soliciting assistance from parents and staff. "Due to the extensive district and the abundance of trees and debris, there is debris in every location," Miles explained. "Yes, we have some debris that needs to be removed; however, we are confident that the schools are in relatively good condition."
The district has guaranteed that the schools damaged by the hurricane, including Sinclair Elementary, were prepared for the upcoming academic year. Nevertheless, the mildew issues at Love and Kashmere Gardens elementary schools were reportedly resolved before classes resumed.
Community volunteers, including those from Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services, have also contributed by updating the community garden at Pugh Elementary and providing sustenance for the cleanup efforts at Marshall Middle School.
Deyadira Arellano of Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services underscored the significance of community engagement, asserting, "Families are mobilizing due to their concerns regarding their children's safety." They are responsible for ensuring their schools are prepared for their children at the start of the academic year.
The collective efforts of parents and community members underscore the Houston community's resilience and dedication to creating a safe and hospitable student environment.
The community's efforts were recognized and acknowledged during the first school day on August 12, 2024.
