Schools chancellor Dennis Walcott says schools will open on Monday, even though some are still damaged by Hurricane Sandy and others are housing people made homeless by the storm, Gotham Schools reports.

“There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it,” Walcott said. “They will open. We know they’ll open.”

Forty-four buildings housing 79 schools, including John Dewey High School in Brooklyn and Beach Channel high School in Queens, are considered "severely damaged" and will need extensive repairs before they are safe, Gotham Schools reports.

Students from damaged schools or from schools that still do not have electricity will be assigned to other buildings. The assignments are still to be determined. Other damaged schools include  P.S. 253, Mark Twain School, and P.S. 195 in Brooklyn, NY 1 reports.

Mayor Mike Bloomberg announced that he would consolidate 76 shelters currently housed in schools into eight buildings. Those buildings will continue to be used as shelters after classes begin. 

These eight will be Brooklyn Tech High School, FDR High School and John Jay High School in Brooklyn, Graphic Arts High School and George Washington High School in Manhattan, Hillcrest High School in Queens and Susan Wagner High School and Tottenville High School in Staten Island, NY 1 reports.