Sandy shutters 200 districts

On Board Online • November 5, 2012

By Eric D. Randall
Editor-in-Chief

Nearly 200 school districts in New York State shut down due to power outages and other disruptions caused by Hurricane Sandy.

“It’s way too early to get any kind of accurate count on the number of schools damaged,” Jonathan Burman, a spokesman for the State Education Department, said as On Board went to press Oct. 31. “We’ve received a half dozen reports so far,  but it’s obviously going to be many, many more than that.”  

On hard-hit Long Island, 13 schools served as American Red Cross shelters and were housing a total of 1,500 people when On Board checked on Oct. 30. More than 500,000 customers lost power in the Hudson Valley, and Western New York was battered by wind and rain as Sandy carved a path between Syracuse and Rochester.

“The only good thing about a storm like this is that it gives us an opportunity to pull together and help our neighbors,” said NYSSBA President Thomas Nespeca, who lives in the Rochester area.

“Everyone is being nice and calm, taking turns,” said NYSSBA Vice President Susan Bergtraum, reached at friend’s house after her Nassau County home lost power. “But check back with me in a few days.