Published: January 12, 2009 08:25 pm      

Bridge City ISD adjusts remaining school year calendar

BRIDGE CITY — Hurricane Ike forced all area school systems to adjust school year calendars accordingly, but none more so than the Bridge City Independent School Districts.

Bridge City ISD students missed a total of 19 days following Hurricane Ike due to the amount of damage the community and several of its campuses received.

None were as hard hit as Sims Elementary, which had approximately four-feet of water inside the building at one point, and Hatton Elementary which had approximately two-feet of water inside its hallways.

All other campuses sustained moderate water damage ranging from a couple of inches to several inches, along with various wind damage to facilities.

According to Dr. Jamey Harrison, Bridge City ISD superintendent, the Texas Education Agency waived a majority of the missed instructional days.

“The state issued a blanket waiver for all of the affected school, which covered 10 days of missed classes,” Harrison said. “But since we missed a total of 19 days because of the hurricane, we had to submit another waiver request, and we are now adjusting our schedule accordingly.”

Harrison said Bridge City ISD students will make up 5.5 days of missed classes, which will require modification to the remaining school year calendar.

The first change is this Monday, which is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Originally it was a staff development day and student holiday, but is now a full school day for students.

Harrison also said the Memorial Day holiday, which is May 25, is now a full school day, and the remaining early release dates — Jan. 16, April 9, May 15 and May 22 — have become full instructional days instead.

A previous early release date in December was already converted into a full school day. Each converted early release day eliminates one-half day from the district’s requirement.

“We could have adjusted our Thanksgiving break schedule, and made up some days then, but we needed that break to make extensive electrical repairs at some of our campuses,” Harrison added. “The only other days to make up were spring break and Good Friday.

“We feel our community wanted to leave Good Friday as it is,” he continued. “And we contemplated using spring break, but we think the parents and students will need that time to recharge when it gets here.”

Harrison also said all flex days are now full school days with the exception of June 1 through June 5, which are still flex days.

“Flex days are built into the schedule for students who are at risk of failing TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills),” Harrison said. “School will end on May 29th for the students who have passed the TAKS test. June 1st through June 5th is solely for those students who did not pass the first two administrations of the TAKS test. We want them to succeed and move on to the next grade, and that is what we hope to help them accomplish.”



Tommy Mann Jr. is a reporter for The Orange Leader. He can be reached at 409-883-3571, Ext. 2619 or tmann@orangeleader.com