SAN ANTONIO – Cold weather that began blanketing the area this week appears to have caused a whirlwind of problems for the San Antonio Independent School District.
Just one day after the district issued a statement saying that all of its schools were prepared for the incoming cold snap, heating systems in at least six schools went down on Tuesday.
A spokesperson’s statement on Wednesday afternoon said the district dispatched technicians and contractors to Highlands, Fox Tech and Burbank High Schools.
Technicians and contractors were also sent to Graebner, Carvajal and Washington elementary schools on Tuesday.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the spokesperson stated that problems were still being addressed at Carvajal Elementary School where the heating system had failed.
By Wednesday morning, heaters were operating normally at most of the affected schools, including Highlands High School.
“Got the heater back on. More relaxing,” Highlands senior John Elizondo said. “You can actually do your work and enjoy being in classes.”
Elizondo said the temperature inside his classroom was much different compared to Tuesday.
Although Tuesday was the first day of classes after the holidays, some students did not stick around.
Some described the conditions inside the building as being frigid.
Elizondo said he was forced to find ways to fight the cold.
“It was cold,” he said. “I just kept my hoodie on. Kept my jacket on.”
Amid a cold snap in January 2024, SAISD closed all its campuses due to a lack of heat at several schools.
People across social media have now been wondering why the problems have persisted.
KSAT 12 News made numerous attempts Tuesday and Wednesday through phone calls, emails, and text messages to speak to someone with SAISD on-camera about the seemingly ongoing issues.
In all, SAISD spokesperson Laura Short told KSAT on Wednesday that the district addressed 29 “high-priority issues” on Tuesday but each issue did not arise at the same time.
More coverage of this story on KSAT:
Highlands High School students get chilly reception due to heating problems