September 9, 2019 | Remarks given by Refugio (Texas) ISD Superintendent of Schools, Melissa Gonzales, on the occasion of the launch of Drop Anywhere Labs
“What an amazing journey we have embarked upon since Friday,
August 25, 2017 when Hurricane Harvey forever changed life in Refugio and
Refugio ISD! It is difficult to adequately describe the whirlwind that has
ensued since that fateful day. The devastating storm and its aftermath seems as
familiar as yesterday, yet in the distant past when considering all that has
transpired in the last two years.
Hurricane Harvey did not occur in a vacuum. We were
experiencing arguably the worst financial crisis in the district’s history,
student enrollment was declining and property values were declining.
We were also in the midst of a $26 million dollar bond
project that included the first renovation to our high school building since
its construction in the 1950s. Because we were set to begin school on Monday,
August 28, the high school project was in the finishing stages. The main high
school building was gorgeous. The
science labs were set to be completed very soon. The community was excited, the
faculty was excited, and the students were excited. Two days before the storm,
the building bustled with construction workers putting on the finishing
touches, teachers who were busily preparing classrooms, and students who were
picking up their schedules. I had yet to receive keys to the building.
On Thursday, August 24 we learned that Hurricane Harvey had
quickly intensified. An evacuation order was issued. A powerful hurricane was
heading our way. The predictions proved correct, Hurricane Harvey stalled over
Refugio, and brought us to our knees.
Every building in the district was damaged including four
high school science labs in the final stages of remodeling. Beautiful new
storefront doors gave way to 160 mph wind leaving the labs exposed to the
elements for the storm’s duration.
Two years down the road evidence of Hurricane Harvey’s
destruction are still clearly visible. Our practice gym, our competition gym,
our auditorium, our district administration building, and our science labs are
still unable to be used. The high school office, the junior high office, and
the counselor serving all 7-12 students were housed in corridors until a few
weeks ago. Students in grades 7-12 were transported to the elementary cafeteria
for breakfast and lunch for well over a year. Refugio ISD was without a library
to serve 7th-12th grade students for many months.
Our children have been incredibly resilient. With 78 percent
of our students qualifying for free/reduced lunch, they are accustomed to
struggle. As a result of Hurricane Harvey, 95.2 percent of our students were
considered homeless in the 2017-2018 school year when applying McKinney-Vento
criteria.
In the
midst of widespread devastation and confusion, we have witnessed the best in
humanity. One of the finest examples of the blessings we have received is an
outpouring of support from Rebuild Texas Fund, Qatar Harvey Fund, and Learning
Undefeated. With two junior high science labs serving all 7-12 grade students,
science lab experiences would be significantly limited. On the contrary,
Refugio ISD students have had access to state of the art, relevant science
instruction, equipment and material. In the two school years since Hurricane
Harvey, Refugio ISD was awarded an Academic Distinction for Science from the
Texas Education Agency in 2018 and in 2019 Refugio High School earned the same
honor. Our deepest gratitude to Rebuild Texas Fund, Qatar Harvey Fund, and
Learning Undefeated for helping make those honors possible. Your generosity has
provided hope and encouragement in our darkest hours.
On behalf of 689 school children and 163 employees of Refugio ISD, I offer our sincere gratitude.”
