GIPS Buildings in Good Shape After Community Flash Flooding

Below is an update from Superintendent Matt Fisher on the impact in GIPS of the recent flash flooding in the community. 

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These past few days have been a whirlwind for our community as we’ve grappled with the record-breaking rainfall and ensuing impact of flash flooding. 
 

We have certainly felt those effects at Grand Island Public Schools.  Closing our Summer Programming a day early and cancelling our Free Summer Meals Program for one day was not the way we wanted to highlight our Summer season.
 

And, as you might expect, our dedicated Buildings & Grounds Team have been busy inspecting the status of all 22 of our district facilities.  
 

We are grateful to report that all of our district schools and facilities remain in good shape and in safe working order. 
 

The effects of the flash flooding impacting our schools is minimal.  Our Summer building projects are continuing as scheduled.  Our Buildings & Grounds Team have confirmed that we experienced minimal water intrusion in a number of our buildings, but nothing large enough that would cause concern. 
 

Our Buildings & Grounds Team have assured us that any impacted areas in our buildings will be addressed quickly and safely with no long term issues. 
 

Two other related updates worth noting: 
 

1. A small number of our school parking lots experienced heavy water collection, but are still in working order.  As we’ve seen in our community, drainage from water collection moves at different speeds depending on the neighborhood location and the amount of rainfall those areas received.
   
    
2. Remember that our Free Summer Meals program is still running at Dodge, Howard, & Starr through July 18th.  You may find information at www.GIPS.org/Summer. 
    

On behalf of Grand Island Public Schools, I also want to thank our civic organizations for their incredible continued support of our community in our times of great need.  Join me in sharing appreciation with the folks leading the City of Grand Island, the Grand Island Police Department, the Grand Island Fire Department, Hall County Emergency Services, our Public Works professionals, and everyone else who is working around the clock to ensure our community receives the support and resources it needs. 
 

At this time, GIPS remains on track to mitigate the minimal impacts of last week’s heavy rainfall; we remain on schedule to complete all Summer building projects; and we look forward to welcoming our staff, students, and families back to our schools in August. 
 

If you have any questions, please reach out to our Student Services Department directly at 308.385.5900 or communications@gips.org. 
 

Thank you for your support, 

- Matt Fisher
GIPS Superintendent
www.GIPS.org

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