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New School Stress -- More Than 300 Katrina Evacuees Enroll in Local Schools

Posted on: Tuesday, 6 September 2005, 09:01 CDT

Officials estimate at least 300 children of Katrina evacuees have enrolled over the last two days in local public and Catholic schools.

The Memphis City Schools registered 150 children and another 148 students are registered at Shelby County schools.

But the number might be much higher, as families called schools directly for help. Officials at headquarters of all three systems are scrambling to tally the numbers.

"Things are just so fluid right now," said Father John Geaney, spokesman for the Catholic Diocese of Memphis.

Other private schools like Lausanne Collegiate School are also accepting some families.

Memphis City Schools has started a school supply drive to collect pencils, backpacks, notebook paper and more for the hurricane victims' families.

The Catholic school system has received calls from New Orleans teachers looking for jobs. The system is in the midst of examining how much classroom space it has and where, or if, it can add some classes and space at its schools.

In Shelby County, even crowded schools are making room for evacuees.

At Highland Oaks Elementary in the southeast part of the county, principal Carol Macon is making what room she can. Her school, with 15 portables, already has 500 more students than it was built to hold. But she's not turning away families.

"We have two coming in and we're accepting them with a smile. We're just so happy to be able to do anything to help," she said.

- Ruma Banerji Kumar: 529-2596

Source: Commercial Appeal, The

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