DeSoto and Lewis elementary schools were the last of 15 schools
By Times Staff Writer
Published September 9, 2004
to have power restored.
TAMPA - All Hillsborough schools will be open today, after workers restored power late Wednesday to the two remaining elementary schools shut down by storm damage.
School spokesman Mark Hart said Tampa Electric workers had isolated the power problems at DeSoto and Lewis elementary schools, the last two of the 15 schools who lost power from Frances.
Most schools reopened Wednesday after two days off for the hurricane.
Assistant superintendent Ken Otero said the county's schools, along with hundreds of portable classrooms, suffered minor damage from the storm's winds and rains.
In addition to the school power outages, Frances damaged the air conditioning system at Lake Magdalene Elementary, caused roof leaks in the auditoriums of Durant High and Tomlin Middle schools, dropped a tree into windows at Cleveland Elementary and flooded the playground and property surrounding Lithia Springs Elementary.
Because of flooding around Lithia, educators have asked parents to either walk with their children or drive them to school if they do not normally take the bus.
Power was restored to Durant High School, but officials have ordered the school to boil drinking water. Otero said the school will temporarily provide students with bottled water.
