Several schools in Harvey County face significant storm damage
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Weeks of cleanup are on the horizon for communities struck by Sunday’s storms. Tuesday was just day two.
Two school districts in Harvey County are dealing with significant damage.
Newton USD 373
Sara Ott, a teacher at Chisholm Middle School, said she didn’t know if they would finish out the year when she flipped the lights on Monday morning and saw the damage to her classroom.
“I’ve always had this room,” she said.
Parts of the roof ripped off, flooding Ott’s classroom just days before summer release.
“The storm picked up the roof and pulled it off, but this is our first time having this much damage,” she said.
A big concern is that parts of the all-inclusive playground about to be built at Slate Creek Elementary next door were blown around and damaged by the storm. The school raised $700,000 for the custom parts that may now not be useable. Ott says she feels for the principal who led the fundraising.
“Equipment had gotten tossed about, and it looks like the crates are broken during the storm, so I really felt for her because I know that was the culmination of a lot of years, too,” she said.
The school is unsure how it may affect the playground’s construction timeline.
“I know there’s pieces being found everywhere, so it’s bound to cause a little trouble,” said Ott.
Ott says the students are taking positives from this experience.
“It’s been interesting, in community building today, everybody has a story, and they’re saying, what’s your storm story? They’re looking out for one another, and they’ve supported each other too,” she said.
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Ott is thankful for the support from other teachers who helped get her room back in order.
The district said that they will assess damage to the playground parts in the coming days.
Halstead-Bentley USD 440
About 15 minutes down the road, Halstead Schools saw significant damage. Their superintendent said it’s been a community effort to try and minimize the impacts.
Large HVAC units ripped from their roof and damaged beyond repair at Halstead High. Leaks in both middle school and high school roofs caused damage to gym floors. The district’s preschool playground is littered with downed trees.
Courtesy: Halstead-Bentley Public Schools Courtesy: Halstead-Bentley Public Schools Courtesy: Halstead-Bentley Public Schools Courtesy: Halstead-Bentley Public Schools Courtesy: Halstead-Bentley Public Schools Courtesy: Halstead-Bentley Public Schools Courtesy: Halstead-Bentley Public Schools Courtesy: Halstead-Bentley Public SchoolsCourtesy: Halstead-Bentley Public Schools Courtesy: Halstead-Bentley Public Schools Courtesy: Halstead-Bentley Public Schools
USD 440 Superintendent Ron Barry is thankful the school year ended last Friday, placing less of a burden on students.
“Definitely helped us not having to have kids be here Monday, Tuesday, not having to make up finals or try to find ways to make sure kids are fed and things of that nature. But at the same time, we were supposed to have our teacher in-service day and work day and wrap up the school year; we’re finalizing those plans now,” said Barry.
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He says the district has nine qualified track and field athletes who will compete at state, and adding the community’s support has helped clear the track to allow those kids to practice again today.
Barry says the district hopes to be fully operational in time for summer school.
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