Monday, May 30, 2011

Joplin School District: Seven students, one teacher killed

From the Joplin School District:

We have been able to account for the status of 100% of our students and staff. We grieve the loss of 8 members of our family - 7 children and 1 educator.

Joplin Schools Operation Center

Joplin North Middle School
102 N. Gray Avenue
Joplin, MO 64801
(417) 625-5270

Reconstruction

We are committed to beginning the 2011-2012 school year on time, 79 days from now on Aug. 17. We are partnering with Crossland Construction, R. E. Smith, and PLJBD Architects to meet this goal.

Demolition of the damaged portion of East Middle School began May 26, 2011. The affected areas of East are being removed and reconstruction will begin as soon as possible. Governor Jay Nixon provided assistance in expediting this process. Reconstruction efforts have also begun at Cecil Floyd Elementary and the administration building.

We received an initial $5,000,000 from Traveler’s Insurance to begin our reconstruction efforts.

The damage to our district's schools was devastating.

• Three school buildings were destroyed, including our high school.

• Three schools were severely damaged.

• Two schools have possible roof damage.

• Several district support facilities sustained some damage.

• The remaining 11 buildings were not damaged.

Donations

Monetary donations for the district are also being accepted. Checks can be made out to -

Joplin Schools Tornado Relief Fund

Attn. Kim Vann
102 N. Gray Avenue
Joplin, MO 64801

US Bank has also set up the ability for anyone across the country to donate to Joplin Schools by dropping off their donation by any US Bank.

Rebuildjoplin.org

Rebuildjoplin.org is live. This site provides a master list of resources available for those affected or those wanting to help. Its an initiative by Bright Futures to serve those affected by the May 22 tornado

Summer Send-Off Events

Each building will host a summer send-off event for staff and students. Students will be able to pick up personal belongings, turn in books and reconnect with classmates and teachers.

South Middle School - Wednesday, June 1, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. at South MS. Pizza will be served.

Jefferson Elementary – Wednesday, June 1, 1-3 p.m. in the cafeteria at Jefferson.

Irving Elementary - Thursday, June 2, 3-5 p.m. at South Middle School.

Kelsey Norman Elementary– Friday, June 3 from 9-11 a.m. at Kelsey Norman.

Additional dates will be announced at a later time.

Summer School

Open enrollment for summer school will begin on Tuesday, May 31 and will take place until Friday, June 10. Families may enroll students in person at Stapleton Elementary School or Memorial Education Center from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily, or by phone at 417-625-5290.

Students previously enrolled in middle school or high school summer school must re-enroll. Families with elementary students who previously enrolled need to contact the district only if their enrollment status has changed. Please call us at 417-625-5290 with any changes.

Elementary summer school will take place from June 13 to July 29 at West Central, Stapleton and McKinley. Students enrolled in summer school at Cecil Floyd will attend Stapleton and students enrolled at Emerson will attend McKinley. Hours will be 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Summer school for middle school students will take place at South Middle School from June 13 to July 1. Hours will be 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Summer school for high school credit recovery students will take place at South Middle School from June 13 to July 1. Hours will be 9:00 to 11:45 a.m. and 12:15 to 3:00 p.m.

All students will receive free breakfast and lunch and transportation will be provided. Pick-up and drop-off locations will be determined by enrollment.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

How can the Joplin School District in all good consciousness ask for donations. They are heavily insured and live off tax money. They are siphoning donations away from people who have no car, no home, no job and little hope. I am shocked that the school district would barge to the front of the donation line. This is criminal.

Anonymous said...

This is the state you are talking about here. I somehow doubt they were heavily insured. I'm certain that their insurance didn't account for three schools being totally distroyed and another three heavily damaged? Without proper schools, you can foget any help you give to the people, since their children will grow up to be poor and uneducated and give more grief to their parents then this temporary setback of having no home will.

I say giving to the schools is helping all the tornado victims, who themselves are probably, as a whole, better insured then the school district.

Anonymous said...

As I student, I can tell you not everything has been replaced. All of my teachers had personal items in their classrooms, and as far as I know, those aren't being replaced with insurance money. In band and orchestra, students had personal instruments-they're not being replaced with insurance money. In clubs, teachers had specific items they had bought over the years with fundraiser money. Do you think they're being replaced? It is ridiculous that you can say - all in good consciousness - that joplin schools do not need donations. And not everyone got hit by the tornado! Many people are going on with life as if nothing had changed - those are the people that can afford to give a little extra. No one is asking people who lost everything to give something more. And it is because of donations that those things will ever be replaced.