Schools in the Perry County School District were closed this week after a severe storm and EF2 tornado damaged buildings in varying degrees Friday night into early Saturday morning.
The Perry County School District announced Saturday that it is closed to all traffic and the public as officials conduct a thorough assessment of the extensive damage caused by a severe storm that swept through the area.
The closure was intended to ensure public safety while crews work to evaluate and repair the damage.
The board of education issued a statement Saturday afternoon that stated, “Perry County School District 32 experienced extensive damage from the storm that moved through our area during the overnight hours of March 14-15. 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 our maintenance and IT departments. Every building on campus sustained roof damage. 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. 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.”
The school district closed its statement with words of appreciation for local emergency responders.
“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.”
On Tuesday, the district announced there will be a special meeting of the board of education at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Old High School Building to discuss the damage to school buildings.
