District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) is working to prepare our buildings and school community this weekend for Hurricane Irene, which is expected to bring high winds and a large amount of rainfall to the District.

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Today, DCPS central office staff is working with the Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization (OPEFM) and school-based staff to prepare our schools, inside and outside, for wind gusts of up to 48 mph and possible flooding late Saturday and throughout Sunday.

DC Public Schools are receiving sandbags and wet-vacs; storm drains, roof drains and catch basins are being cleared to mitigate the impact of heavy rain; and windows and outdoor items are being secured to prevent wind damage.

Custodians are being asked to report to their schools after the storm to check on water and wind damage, and DCPS along with OPEFM will deploy staff and contractors to address damage and make repairs as necessary. DCPS and OPEFM also will notify PEPCO of any power outages and request priority restoration.

“Our priority is to open schools on Monday and we are taking every step necessary to ensure that our buildings are protected throughout the storm and ready to open in the aftermath,” said DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson. “After assessing damage, we plan to communicate to our schools, our families and the media on Sunday about school opening on Monday.”

DCPS football games that had been scheduled for today will be held as scheduled. However, Saturday’s games have been cancelled in response to the possibility of high winds and rain. Saturday’s games that are cancelled are: McKinley vs. St. John’s, Hart vs. Deal, Kelly Miller vs. Stuart-Hobson, and Kramer vs. Jefferson.