Posted by Tanya Arja or Debra Bellanti on 10/12/2024 11:41:00 AM
For Immediate Release
Contact: Tanya Arja or Debra Bellanti
Hillsborough County Public Schools
Office of Communications
813-272-4060
Tampa, Fl. (October 12, 2024) – Hillsborough County Public Schools will remain closed on Monday, October 14, due to recovery efforts from Hurricane Milton.
Due to significant flooding, large, uprooted trees blocking access, and widespread power outages at 172 of our schools, our cleanup efforts will need to continue. All schools and district offices will remain closed on Monday, October 14.
We will provide an update by noon on Monday regarding our reopening status for the remainder of the week.
Our decision to reopen schools will depend on several key factors:
Power Restoration
The speed at which power can be restored to schools is a critical factor. We are in close contact with local leaders and are aware of the power restoration timeline provided by TECO.
School Facility Conditions
Our teams are working with local vendors to clean and prepare buildings that have water intrusion.
Staff Concerns
We are also mindful about the number of district and school staff without power or with significant damage in their homes.
Road Conditions
We are evaluating the condition of roadways and traffic signals in our community.
We know there are questions about makeup days. We are in contact with the Florida Department of Education on our status. At this time, our priority is safely reopening our schools, and we will communicate any decisions about makeup time at a later date.