Recovery efforts following Saturday’s tornado continued at Brindlee Mountain Primary School Thursday morning, while crews and volunteers moved supplies and furniture into Brindlee Mountain High School, where the primary school students will resume classes on January 27th.
Thursday afternoon, a chain link fence was put up around the primary school to secure the property as repairs and recovery efforts continue.
“We should be about 95% completely moved today — not organized, but moved”, said Dr. Cindy Wigley, Marshall County Schools Superintendent.
Brindlee Mountain high school and elementary students will head back to school next Thursday. Primary students will resume classes the following Monday. Dr. Wigley said parents of primary students will have a chance to see the new classrooms sometime next week. Parents can also expect a staggered release for after school.
“All the primary students will be released prior to the high school students, and they will be seated on the bus before the high school students are released,” she said.
Dr. Wigley said all the details will be sent to parents. In the meantime, repairs at the primary school will continue.
“We are in the middle of talking to our insurance agents right now to find out what money we will have to put into the recovery process,” said Dr. Wigley. “We certainly hope that whatever funds we do lack that our elected officials will step in and help.”
About five miles away, students at Union Hill School are thinking about students at Brindlee Mountain Primary.
“It’s sad because they lost everything at their school,” said Hunter Alldredge, a third grader.
“I’m happy no one was there so they didn’t get hurt,” said Carter Smothers, a third grader.
Students and teachers at Union Hill School are now gathering supplies to help.
Heather Mahan is a teacher at Union Hill, and says God laid it on her heart to help those at the primary school.
“We’re just asking for basic school supplies,” said Mahan. “Pencils, crayons, paper, Clorox wipes, Kleenex’s, things like that — just to help them kind of get started.”
Books for the students — both new and used — are also being collected. Items can be dropped off for donation at Union Hill’s front office.
Donations are also being accepted online for Brindlee Mountain Primary School. Donations can be made on the school district’s website.
Dr. Wigley said all money raised will go directly to the teachers and supplies for students.
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