Published: April 08, 2009 02:24 pm      

OISD motors on after Ike

ORANGEFIELD — The Orangefield Independent School District has been here before.

Barely more than three years ago, administrators at Orangefieled ISD were busy making repairs to many of the district’s facilities following Hurricane Rita. The district was forced to make repairs once again thanks to Hurricane Ike.

The most recent storm to churn across Southeast Texas brought more wind damage to the smallest school district in Orange County.

Hurricane issues such as repairs and finances were the main topics of discussion at a recent meeting of the Orangefield Independent School District school board.

The storm caused considerable damage to many areas within the district, including the agriculture shop, fencing at Cormier Park on FM 1442, the air conditioning unit at Orangefield Elementary and the one on the cafeteria at Orangefield High School. Other damages included the fencing on the tennis courts, and the awning at the ticket booth on the visitors side of the football field.

“As a whole, the district is much better off right now than we were around this same time in 2005 after Hurricane Rita,” said Philip Welch, OISD superintendent. “Our kids were still walking around on concrete floors, and walls were still being painted, and all types of other work was being done.”

In January, Welch said the biggest project left for the district to address was repair work to the Ag Shop and the replacement of two large roll-up doors.

Despite being in a better situation now, Orangefield ISD is still patiently waiting on insurance funds and possible money from FEMA to cover damages and repair work.

“The district has turned in its claims and we have done the project worksheets,” Welch continued. “But we haven’t received any money yet from insurance or FEMA. Hopefully we will hear something from one or both very soon.”

Students of OISD missed a total of 14 instructional days due to mandatory evacuations being issued for Hurricanes Gustav and Ike this summer, and the school board approved having students make up two of those days.

Student enrollment has skyrocketed this year in the Orangefield school district as well, quite possibly due to the neighboring Bridge City school district being so devastated by Ike’s storm surge.

As of Dec. 15, 2008, Welch said 1,739 students were enrolled in classes in the Orangefield school district. This is 65 more students than at the same time in 2007.