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No Problems Reported As Broward Schools Reopen

Hundreds Of Traffic Lights Still Not Working

POSTED: 12:06 pm EST November 7, 2005
UPDATED: 12:35 pm EST November 7, 2005

Public schools in Broward and Palm Beach counties reopened Monday for the first time since Hurricane Wilma damaged classrooms and cut power to millions of people two weeks ago.


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  • Wilma hit Florida on Oct. 24, causing billions of dollars in damage across the state and making many schools temporarily unusable. Children missed more than two full weeks of classes , the break prompting concerns about how they will make up lost time. The state's largest school district, Miami-Dade County, reopened Thursday.

    One major worry is how the delay will affect preparation for the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). The FCAT scores also are used to grade schools, and failing performances can ultimately lead to a school's closure.

    Broward schools Superintendent Frank Till said the district planned to ask the state to push back the FCAT for its students from when it is normally given in February and March. The district is also finishing plans to make up the lost school days, he said.

    Till stressed the reopening went smoothly, with student and faculty attendance at about normal levels. All schools were reopened and had power back.

    "You couldn't have asked for better. They're back on track," he said.

    Wilma forced Broward and Palm Beach County teachers to try to get their classrooms in order quickly for Monday.

    Jaime Chehova, a fourth-grade teacher at Park Trails Elementary in Parkland, said she spent every day of the two weeks decorating her new portable classroom. The old one was damaged.

    "It was like the first day of school all over again. All the kids' stuff got destroyed. I had to hand out new pens, new books, all new supplies."

    She said she spent about 10 minutes Monday morning talking with the kids about the hurricane. "Then, it was like any other school day," she said.

    Cristobal Raveau, 16, a junior at J.P. Taravella High School in Coral Springs, spent most of the time off helping his family move out of their apartment because it suffered water damage and the roof caved in. He said he was happy to be back in school.

    "I'm worried about making up the days we missed," he said.

    Kelsey Chiavari, another 16-year-old junior, said she did a lot of reading over the break, both for school work and for fun. She had mixed feelings about being back.

    "I like to see all my friends but I don't like all the work," she said.

    Their principal, Shawn Cerra, said about 90 percent of the student body showed up to class Monday.

    "We're trying to help the kids who were displaced. The teachers are having conversations with them and accessing where the kids are. We're bringing kids down and offering services to them," he said.

    The school districts have gotten some help from the state. Gov. Jeb Bush last week waived a state law limiting class sizes for hurricane-affected districts, and granted waivers from the 180-day school year. Students who switch to a public school because of hurricane damage to a private school will also remain eligible for certain scholarships, the governor said.

    As of Monday morning, about 94 percent of the 3.2 million customers who lost power because of Wilma had it back, according to Florida Power & Light, the state's largest electric utility. The rest, about 176,400 customers, should have power restored by Sunday, the company said.


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