BISD: Schools to remain open despite mayor's decree

All Brownsville Independent School District schools are open this morning, despite Mayor Pat M. Ahumada Jr.'s plea to shut them.

Early this morning, Ahumada announced that he wanted the schools closed because of the swine flu outbreak.

However, BISD officials said the schools will remain open until they get word from the interim superintendent and the school board, plus county health authorities to close them.

BISD Spokeswoman Drue Brown said district officials spoke with county health officials this morning and they were told there are no suspected and confirmed cases of the virus within the district.

Debbie Graves Ratcliffe, spokeswoman for the Texas Education Agency in Austin, said only the school district and county health authorities have the power to order any school closures.

For more on this developing story, stay with www.BrownsvilleHerald.com.