Jefferson County Schools’ Transportation Department Works to Raise Money for Texas School District Ravaged by Hurricane Harvey

Charles Town, W.Va. – Members of the Jefferson County Schools Transportation Department have organized a community fundraiser to support a school district devastated by Hurricane Harvey with the hopes of raising $20,000.

Through business sponsorship support from 41 local businesses and the creation of T-shirts, the transportation department has currently raised $6,100. The lion’s share of fundraising efforts will take place on Oct. 21 and Oct. 22 throughout Jefferson County. Members of the transportation department will be present at a total of 10 locations throughout the weekend. The transportation department will volunteer their time to park a bus at stores like Weis, Food Lion, Tractor Supply and more to solicit donations for the hurricane victims. A bake sale will be held at Long John Silver's to raise additional funds.

The funds will directly benefit Aransas County Independent School District in Rockport, Texas. The school district operates a total of five schools that were destroyed after Hurricane Harvey ripped through their community. A single elementary school will open in late October, but the secondary schools have been so badly damaged that the school district is currently operating out of 80 portables that have been placed on a soccer field to house the middle and high school students.

“We knew we wanted to help a smaller school district that wouldn’t get as many resources after such a widespread disaster,” said Karen Nelson, bus driver at Jefferson County Schools. After watching the news and seeing the devastation, I knew we had to do something.”

To learn more about Jefferson County Schools, visit boe.jeff.k12.wv.us.

Featured

  • Montclair State University Starts Construction on $120M STEM Building

    Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., recently broke ground on a new $120-million Interdisciplinary Science Building, according to university news. The university partnered with HoK Architects for the project’s design, and it’s scheduled to open in time for the 2028–29 academic year.

  • Indiana University Launches Capital Campus in D.C.

    Indiana University recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new IU Capital Campus in Washington, D.C., according to university news. The eight-story facility will provide a central hub for the university’s existing programs and business operations based in D.C., uniting them under one roof and providing the opportunity to expand.

  • TCU Marks Campus Expansion Milestone

    Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, recently held a topping-out ceremony to mark progress on a major campus expansion effort including four new residential facilities and a five-story parking garage, according to a news release.

  • Year-Round Schools Require Year-Round Indoor Air Quality Planning

    While many schools are out for the summer, year-round schools follow a more “balanced” schedule with shorter, more frequent breaks spaced throughout the school year. Even though this offers educational benefits, these facilities have less downtime for building maintenance. This can become an issue when facilities managers overlook the importance of routine HVAC maintenance and air duct cleaning services.