Florida

Miami-Dade, Broward Students Return to School After Hurricane Irma

Miami-area students have returned to school amid ongoing Hurricane Irma cleanups.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho tweeted late Sunday that power and air conditioning had been restored to all schools. One middle school, Richmond Heights Middle, remained closed Monday for cleaning but was expected to be open Tuesday.

"It feels good to actually come back to school," Miami Jackson Senior High student Martin Mayorquin said.

Early Monday, Carvalho tweeted that welcoming students back to class was "a step toward normalcy."

Broward County Public Schools officials said power was restored to all of their schools Sunday morning.

All schools and offices opened Monday, and Broward Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie told the Sun Sentinel that all students will be offered free breakfast and lunch for several weeks.

In the Florida Keys, Monroe County Schools Superintendent Mark Porter aims to have students back in class on Sept. 25.

"Given the situation in Monroe County, the Keys, we certainly welcome any of those students and families who are really looking to at least get their lives stabilized," Runcie said. "We are ready and welcoming those folks to Broward County Public Schools."

Students in southwestern Florida also will miss another week of school. Collier County school district officials told the Naples Daily News on Friday that staff and school buildings were still struggling with power outages, sewage backups and repairs.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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