Houston Independent School District (HISD) officials are set to announce on Sunday whether students will be able to return to their respective campuses on Monday, following the severe storm that hit the area last week. The decision comes after heavy rainfall and 100 mph winds caused significant damage to several schools within the district.

Superintendent Mike Miles surveyed the damage at Sinclair Elementary on Saturday, one of the campuses that was most heavily impacted by the storm. The school's foundation was strewn with tree limbs, debris, and insulation. Pugh Elementary, Robinson Elementary, and Paige Elementary also experienced damage such as broken windows and fallen trees, though the buildings are considered structurally sound.

At present, 77 HISD campuses are without power, as crews worked tirelessly to restore electricity after 136 schools were affected. The district's goal is to have all students back in classrooms on Monday morning. However, if a student's home campus remains without power, alternate arrangements will be made by bussing them to another campus.

According to the CenterPoint Outage Tracker tool, as of Sunday morning, 350,029 customers were still experiencing power outages. The company expects restoration efforts to be completed by Wednesday.

In addition to addressing classroom returns, the district has also organized a free food and supply distribution drive to assist families affected by the severe weather events. Starting on Monday, families can visit the Brock Sunrise Center at 1417 Houston Avenue and the Morefield Sunrise Center at 5950 Selinsky Road, where free food and cleaning supplies will be available for 500 families per center. On Tuesday, the YDC Sunrise Center will open at 9 a.m., providing further support to affected families.

HISD is set to announce their decisions regarding classroom returns at noon, taking into account the power restoration progress and the safety of students and staff.

As this collaborative effort continues to address the aftermath of the severe storms, the district aims to ensure the well-being and educational continuity of its students, while providing vital support to families in need during this challenging time.