PERRYVILLE – Due to the storm damage on campus, school will be closed to students Monday, March 17 through Friday, March 21. (Students were already scheduled off on Monday).
“This will allow time for a thorough assessment of our facilities by structural engineers,” a school official stated in a news released. “We will also begin clean-up of our grounds. Please know that our team will be working throughout the weekend and week ahead to plan our return to class as soon as safely possible. Our campus will remain closed. Only authorized disaster-response personnel, emergency responders, and contractors will be allowed to enter our parking areas and buildings.”
The official continued, “We will continue to provide regular updates to parents and families; be sure to check your email regularly. We’re all so grateful that this didn’t happen when our students and staff were on campus, and are looking forward to having everyone back soon.”
After the first walk-through of campus, it appears that the most severe structural damage occurred to Perryville High School, the Old Senior High School, and the building that houses the maintenance and IT departments. Every building on campus sustained roof damage. However, the district’s fleet of buses, transportation shed, and the Career Center appear to be relatively unscathed.
“We do not yet know the full extent of the damage, so the campus will remain closed until further notice. Only authorized disaster-response personnel, emergency responders, and contractors will be allowed to enter our parking areas and buildings,” a district official stated.
District administrators, led by Superintendent Dr. Fara Jones and Assistant Superintendent Craig Hayden, are currently working to determine the next steps for our schools. “We will keep our Pirate family and the community informed as decisions are made and more information becomes available.”
“For now, we want to thank our community’s emergency responders for their swift response to the disaster, as well as our city and county leaders who have reached out to offer assistance. We have been overwhelmed by the support from our community.”
“We are grateful to be surrounded by the love and support of Perry County.”