Clarkdale Elementary Still affected by storm damages

Classes have resumed for Lauderdale County Students, however damages that were caused by a tornado earlier this year still remain at Clarkdale Elementry. With the relocation of 6 classrooms due to construction taking place, teachers are having to find creative ways to continue teaching their students.

"This is the 400 hall. This is the hall that sustained the most tornado damage back in April.

They built up a temporary wall to cut a section off because we have lots of construction workers in and out and we want to make sure it's safe for kids," said Assistant Principal Emily Lee as she gave us a tour of the hall.

Behind their temporarily built walls are 6 classes they no longer have access to and 6 teachers have been relocated throughout the campus.

"Our computer teacher is one of our special teachers, and she is just going to the classrooms for their activity time. She's just going to their actual classrooms. The other two fourth-grade teachers have moved to the art room and the classroom," said Lee.

No longer being in a traditional classroom teachers are being innovative to make sure they are still creative in an environment where students can still learn.

"So we don't have a traditional classroom. We are in the library. I do not have a board.

So we are using the windows to work out our math problems and to do our great work," said Math Teacher Angie Wilkinson.

"The kids are actually enjoying writing on the windows. It's something that's not a norm for them. And so it's just a different way of learning. And so we're doing great with it."

Later this year the affected classrooms will be moved into 12 modular structures on campus.

Lee stated, "Modular buildings are coming. From what I understand, all of our teachers on this end of the hallway will move into the modular buildings as well, and we will have this whole building under construction."

Lee says through it all this shows the perseverance of her faculty and staff and that they will get the job done no matter what.