Dallas ISD school officials visited hurricane shelters this morning to enroll children who were displaced by Hurricane Ike.

The representatives were expected at Samuell-Grand Recreation Center, Loos Field House, Ellis Davis Field House and the Dallas Convention Center. Bilingual staff members planned to be at each shelter.

“If the parent wants them in school, we will get them in school,” said Jose Luis Torres, executive director of parent services and school choice for Dallas ISD.

At Samuell Grand Recreation Center in East Dallas, school district representative Rene Martinez helped with enrollment and registration. The center had 23 children ranging from ages 5 to 15.

There is no definitive time-limit for the evacuees to be in Dallas in order to register their children to school. “If it’s one day, it’s one day,” said Mr. Martinez. “Two days, two days. We’re taking this on a day-to-day basis.”

The center, which was converted into a shelter by the American Red Cross, has hosted evacuees since last week when Hurricane Ike hit the Texas Coast.

“We’re just trying to make life as easy and comfortable during this time for these folks,” Mr. Martinez said.

School representatives were also at the convention center recruiting parents and children this morning and a town hall meeting may be held in the afternoon, said Dr. Torres.

The Dallas Morning News was denied access to the convention center and unable to contact school representatives on scene.

As of Saturday, the convention center had about 250 children staying there, Dr. Torres said. The number of evacuees at shelters continues to fluctuate as people find housing with relatives and at hotels. He said the district expected to enroll about 100 children at the convention center today.

After Hurricane Katrina, Dr. Torres said about 2,500 evacuees enrolled in the Dallas school district. The majority of those children were elementary school students and some still remain.

Evacuee children in the Dallas area who are not staying in one of the shelters can enroll at their nearest school.

Fort Worth ISD officials are preparing for representatives to visit each evacuee shelter in the city. District spokesman Clint Bond said the Fort Worth ISD hopes to make those visits this week to help families decide whether to enroll their children.

Lewisville ISD also is accepting evacuee enrollment. 

The Texas Education Agency continues to leave it to parents to decide if it makes sense to enroll their children in local schools based on their circumstances.

Parents should consider how long their children will be in the area. Some Gulf Coast school districts will extend the school year to make up the time lost from Hurricane Ike.

For more information on Dallas school enrollment, call 972-925-3700. To contact the Fort Worth ISD, call 817-871-2000. For Lewisville, call 469-713-5206.

Staff writers Holly Yan and Gregg Fielder contributed to this report.