Dallas ISD, Fort Worth ISD reopen campus after winter storm

DALLAS - For students across North Texas, a couple of snow days turned into weeks.

Some campuses just reopened Monday. That includes three schools in Dallas ISD and three in Fort Worth ISD.

All of the buildings suffered extensive damage due to the winter storm.

School districts have been working with vendors and contractors to get campuses back in operation. They've made a lot of progress. Still, a few remain closed to in-person learning.

A sense of normalcy finally returned to three Dallas ISD schools Monday. They had remained closed for in-person learning due to damage caused by the last month's winter storm.

JP Starks Elementary School sustained water damage.  Parents are grateful the campus is once again safe to reopen.

Orlando Riddick is the Dallas ISD Acting Chief of School Leadership. He said Starks, Lincoln High School and Harold Lang Middle School all reopened for in-person learning Monday.

"Our contractors along with staff have done an incredible job getting these schools back online," he said.

Riddick says just one campus remained closed for in-person learning: Bryan Adams High School. The power is still out.

"So we've got our contractors and teams diving all over that work in regards to why we can't the power back on at Bryan Adams," he said. "So that we can then get a city inspector to come out and inspect that work before Oncor will turn the power back into the building."

Fort Worth ISD is also making progress in getting kids back into the classroom.

The district shared a video of the cleanup that had to take place inside Westpark Elementary before in-person learning could resume Monday. There was water damage caused by burst pipes. It was a similar situation at Tanglewood Elementary School.

Soaked carpets had to be torn out and replaced. The building has been aired out. Tanglewood is reopening in two stages.

Grades 3-5 reported for in-person learning on Monday, while pre-K through second-grade students will return on Wednesday.

No matter the school district, parents seem relieved to have options again.

Bonnie Brae Elementary School in Fort Worth ISD will return to offering in-person instruction on Wednesday.

As far as Bryan Adams in Dallas ISD goes, the district says a timeline will depend on how soon they get the power back on.