Tyler ISD Express - Hurricane Katrina
Update on Student Evacuees
Greetings!
Tyler ISD was one of the first school districts in the
Nation to come up with a comprehensive plan for
helping the evacuees of Hurricane Katrina get their
children back into school. As the aftermath of
Hurricane Katrina became increasingly devastating,
we knew that there would be families relocating to
our area. We started to identify families living in
hotels, shelters and staying in our homes. From
there, Tyler ISD planned a program to assist school-
age children who might be present in our area for a
significant period of time and needed to enroll in
Texas public schools. In a press conference held on
September 1, 2005, Superintendent, Dr. David
Simmons, promised that Tyler ISD would do all it
could for these children. He said, “We will be
sensitive to the needs of these families and treat
them with kindness and care. We know that we will
be addressing educational and emotional needs of
these students.”
The school district coordinated with the three major
shelters in town at First Christian Church, Green
Acres Baptist Church and Marvin Methodist Church,
as well as the hotels and motels in town to locate
children that needed to be in school. A capacity
study was conducted to determine which campuses
could take these students.
We got out the word that every child qualified for
free breakfast and lunch, transportation would be
provided, and that the Texas Education Agency had
waived the usual enrollment requirements. No
immunization records or school records were needed.
An emergency enrollment form was developed in
English and in Spanish. A process was also developed
to do a preliminary assessment of student needs.
The district enrolled students at the central
administration building and at each shelter. Teams
from the district went to the motels, hotels and
shelters to disseminate and gather information.
Hurricane Evacuee Enrollment Increases
Official enrollment of these students started the day
after Labor Day, September 6th. We are continuing
to enroll students but the first official day of school
for the majority of these children was Friday,
September 9, 2005.
Tyler ISD Receives Blessings for Hurricane Katrina Disaster
Tyler ISD received many
encouraging and supportive
emails and phone calls from all over the United
States.
". . .The devastation is indescribable and our
hearts go out to these children & their families.",
Raliegh, North Carolina.
". . . wanted to let you know how much the entire
country appreciates what you guys and other school
districts and citizens in East Texas are doing for the
Hurricane Survivors... "East Texas people are going
above and beyond what they have to do for these
people. Just know that God will not only bless the
school district for this, but will bless all the families
one way or another for all they are doing.",
Tampa, Florida.
Students from Matanuska, Alaska are
offering moral support to the children of the Hurricane
Katrina Disaster by starting a pen pal program.
A PTA parent from California is
adopting an eighth grade class in Tyler ISD to help
support the children of Hurricane Katrina.
The Cape Cod Times in Massachusetts
requested more information on the Hurricane
Disaster efforts that Tyler ISD organized.
"I
was hoping to collect school supplies and send them
to your school districts to help with the hurricane
victims..."I think it is wonderful how Texas has
opened its arms and homes to the victims.",
Highland Park, New Jersey.
Tyler ISD Schools Hurricane Disaster Relief Efforts
The Tyler ISD has received an overwhelming
response by the community to supply school supplies,
uniforms, shoes, backpacks and store gift-cards for
our new students. We now believe we have enough
supplies to take care of these children. We are so
proud to be a part of such a great community. Tyler’s
generosity and hospitality is greatly appreciated.Our
students and staff have embraced this outreach
and some campuses are also participating in relief
efforts.
The following are some of the campus projects
Peete Elementary
The PTA at Peete is beginning a Penny Drive in an
effort to assist victims of the hurricane. We hope to
teach the children the value of “every penny” and
that we should always help others in need, if
possible. The Salvation Army in Tyler and they will
accept our donations and earmark them for hurricane
victims. We hope to have a school wide graph
displayed in the cafeteria to show the amount of
money raised by our Peete Wildcats. Also the Peete
staff will collect needed items and distribute to
various shelters.
Camp Tyler
Camp Tyler is currently working with the library to do
story times at First Christian. Also, Dr. Rita Bryant
Turner is working to arrange a farm tour for the little
ones and their parents. Books are also being
collected by the library to take to the children.
Griffin Elementary
Students are collecting money and the art teacher is
allowing the students to make banners that will be
delivered to the hotels and shelters as a show of
support.
Moore MST Magnet
Moore’s National Junior Honor Society and the PTA
will be holding a water drive for the hurricane victims
in LA and MS. They will be collecting gallon jugs of
water. PTA will take the water to the Blaze radio
station for delivery to the coastal area.
Ramey Elementary
Ramey is helping to fill “Flood Buckets” with NEW
kitchen-sized sponges and latex gloves. These
items, along with others, enable people to begin the
overwhelming job of cleaning up after a flood or
hurricane. The buckets will be used by volunteers in
the devastated areas of Louisiana and Mississippi.
Rice Elementary
PTA is collecting bottled/container water to help with
the disaster relief effort. Faculty and students are
bringing bottled water to send to The Blaze Radio
Station who will distribute to victims.
Owens Elementary
Owens Elementary is conducting a coin drive for the
hurricane relief efforts. Also, one of Owens 1st grade
teachers, Kristy Slocumb, is collecting books to take
to refugees staying at the Wingate Inn.
Stewart Middle School
Faculty and students are bringing bottled water to
send to The Blaze Radio Station who will distribute to
victims.
Bonner Elementary
Bonner PTA is collecting bottled/container water to
help with the disaster relief effort.
Anderson Complex
Students and faculty at the Anderson Complex will be
collecting bottled water for the disaster effort.
Caldwell Elementary Arts Academy
Caldwell students and staff will be collecting money
and supplies for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Dogan Middle School
Dogan is organizing a canned food drive/bottled
water drive.
Dixie Elementary
Dixie students and staff will be collecting items for
victims of Hurricane Katrina.
