PORTLAND, Ore. — Many students of Portland Public Schools returned to the classroom Monday after missing four days last week due to bad weather. But students at five schools were still unable to attend classes due to damage in the buildings. Two of the five schools will remain closed until mid-February, according to PPS.
All five schools are dealing with damage from recent storms. Some had pipes freeze or burst, leading to flooding in the school.
On Monday evening, PPS announced the extended closures of the two Southwest Portland schools, Robert Gray Middle School and Markham Elementary in a letter sent to parents.
The letter stated that, unlike the other schools, busted pipes and flooding is consistent throughout the building and not isolated to one or two rooms. "Water damaged plaster and drywall throughout your buildings, and disrupted asbestos when ceiling pipes burst," administrators wrote.
PPS also says that, until the buildings are safely repaired, they will remain closed.
"We are competing for professionals not only to repair, but to test and abate as well, and we cannot reopen these buildings until it is safe for everyone in our community."
The district acknowledges that although there is no current complete plan for these repairs, they plan to keep parents and the community informed regarding the progress: "We do not have a complete plan to share with you this evening but promise to do so as soon as we possibly can."
PPS parents have expressed the challenges the school year has brought on many families.
“We had a rough week last week,” Maoloud Dabab, a parent of two students at Markham Elementary School said.
Dabab told KGW that he’s worked from home the past couple of weeks, while his daughters have been out of school.
“It’s kind of tough for me as a parent,” Dabab said. “Because I need to prioritize staying with the kids.’
It also hasn’t been easy for Dabab’s kids either, he said.
"The kids, also it’s been tough for them,” Dabab said. “So they’ve been, for a week, at home. And now there’s another week.”
The principal of Markham Elementary initially sent a letter to parents saying that the school was expected to be closed for the entire week as crews made repairs on pipes that froze and burst.
The frozen pipes led to heavy water damage in classrooms, hallways and gyms.
“I mean, it’s been rough,” Liz Hing, a parent of two students at Markham Elementary School said. “It’s just kind of like wait and see."
Hing has a fifth and second grader at Markham Elementary. In December, her sons had COVID, forcing them to miss another week of school, Hing said.
They also missed three weeks of class due to the teachers strike in November and icy weather last week.
Now Hing is becoming more worried that her students may not be getting the education she expected.
“I don’t know, it feels like a bust,” Hing said.