Hochman Gives Updates on Irene Impact on Bedford Schools

Bedford Central Superintendent Jere Hochman sent out the following email to local media today, giving a briefing on how the school district is faring, given outages caused by the impact of Hurricane Irene's remnants earlier this week. Below is the email:

In case you have been trying to reach us via school email or phones, we still do not have electricity on the Fox Lane Campus (day 5) so we do not have phones or internet. (We can make emergency 911 calls if necessary and spotty cell service).   

Our facilities department has been working from the onset of the storm to clear trees and ready the schools.  

Our biggest challenge right now is that NYSEG and ConEd do not have electricity to our main campus and West Patent Elementary School.   Our focus is insuring that all staff have access to emergency, medical, transportation, and other critical information in order to begin school as well as our ability to register new students and to respond to calls and emails from parents.   

All teachers and staff report Thursday and, as always, many have been in classrooms and buildings getting ready for kids already.   

We are monitoring the power companies closely and have communicated with Assemblyman Castelli, Senator Ball, and County Legislator Harckham for support in getting electrical power up and running. They have all been very helpful! Our emergency response team met with Bedford Police Chief Hayes today and will continue to coordinate with all district towns.