Ringgold - Life was supposed to begin to get back to normal Tuesday morning at Ringgold High School for the first time since a killer tornado swept through last April, killing eight and shutting down the school.
But weather struck again this week, and back-to-normal would have to wait one more day.
A rain storm that dumped seven inches on Ringgold in 48 hours caused so many roads to flood school buses couldn’t get through. The first day of class -- which, in a normal year would have started the first week of August -- got bumped to Wednesday.
“This was so disappointing to me, and to all the students, who I think are really looking forward to school starting again,” Ringgold High principal Sharon Vaughn said. “They’ve done such a great job of fixing the school and it’s so pretty, I think these students need to sit and see something pretty all day. The way the town looks has been getting people down.”
The tornado did about $1 million worth of damage to the school, ripping off the roof, mostly destroying the gym, and flattening the stadium. Two students killed at home were among the eight who died when tornado hit the town in Georgia’s northwest corner on the evening of April 27. Crews have been working overtime for four months to finish repairs.
Wednesday will be the first time most students have attended class at Ringgold High since the tornado; the finished the year at another school.
“We’re all excited about it, very excited about trying to get back to normal,” PTA president Larry Morris said. “The football team has already started playing [the Tigers are 2-0, and play home games at a stadium in Chattanooga]. This will get the spirit going even more.”
A pep rally and press conference are scheduled Wednesday morning. Vaughn can’t wait.
“I haven’t been sleeping very well,” she said. “I need to walk the halls and bump into people again.”
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