DCS Operations Team Lauded for Storm Response

Photo: Physical Plant Director Jerry White details the work to school campuses ahead of and during the recent winter storm. (Image from DeSoto County Schools YouTube)

Key Points

• Physical Plant crews took proactive steps ahead of this month’s winter storm, unhooking hoses, shutting off outdoor water lines, and inspecting every hallway and bathroom to prevent leaks and damage.
• Five vendors were secured early to handle ice removal, with coordinated cleanup across campuses and each school stocked with at least 10 bags of salt.
• Jerry White and his operations team were praised during Thursday’s board meeting for preventing major issues and ensuring campuses were safe and ready to reopen.

HERNANDO, Miss. — DeSoto County Schools leaders commended the district’s Physical Plant Department on Thursday for its extensive behind‑the‑scenes work during this month’s winter storm, crediting proactive planning for preventing major damage and ensuring campuses were ready to reopen safely.

The recognition came during the DeSoto County Schools Board of Education meeting in Hernando, where Physical Plant Director Jerry White delivered an operations update detailing how his team prepared for and responded to the severe cold.

White said his department began coordinating as soon as early forecasts signaled a significant winter event. “We broke it into two parts — preventing problems before the storm and cleaning up after it hit,” he told the board.

Preventing Damage Before the Freeze

Ahead of the storm, area managers completed a district‑wide checklist designed to reduce the risk of burst pipes, leaks, and power‑related issues. Their work included:

• Unhooking water hoses from exterior faucets at every school
• Cutting off water to outdoor spigots and draining exposed lines
• Inspecting every hallway and bathroom in every school for leaks
• Preparing for potential power outages and monitoring vulnerable areas

“These guys carried the load,” White said. “If we hadn’t been proactive, we could have had a lot of bad news.”

Coordinated Cleanup and Ice Removal

Once the storm arrived, the department shifted into response mode. White said the district hired five vendors—one more than during the previous major winter event—to handle ice removal and exterior cleanup.

Those vendors were secured early, before demand surged across the region.

“We didn’t want to wait until the last minute,” White said. “We nailed them down ahead of time so they were ready to go as soon as conditions allowed.”

Crews worked through thick ice in parking lots and walkways, breaking it up and hauling it away to ensure safe access for staff and students.

To support the effort, each school was stocked with at least 10 bags of salt, with additional supplies kept in maintenance trucks for rapid deployment.

Board members thanked White and his team for preventing what could have been widespread damage across Mississippi’s largest school district.

“We took a bad situation and made it manageable,” White said. “Most importantly, nobody got hurt.”