Needville ISD schools closed due to fire

A fire that began at a high school 25 miles south of Rosenberg at 3:15 this morning destroyed ungraded TAKS tests and led to all Needville ISD schools to be closed today. The fire was confined to the main area of the building, and there's no word yet on what caused it. We hope this had nothing to do with a student who was unsatisfied with his or her standardized test performance. We also hope that this doesn't mean the students have to retake the test. Several fire departments were needed to put out the fire in the nearly 60-year-old wooden structure. Some students who live nearby said they could see the flames from their homes.

All the TAKS tests taken by freshmen, sophomores, and juniors at the high school were burned up in the fire. Superintendent Curtis Rhodes said that they were boxed up and ready to be sent off for grading. He has contacted TEA to see what they should do next.

Classes were canceled due to heavy traffic on Highway 36 as firefighters worked to put out the fire.