Five months after flooding damaged several schools in Eastern Kentucky, Martha Jane Potter Elementary School in Whitesburg has reopened.
WKYT-TV reports that students, faculty and staff returned to the Letcher County district campus Monday after spending the beginning of the school year at Fleming-Neon Middle School.
The effects of July’s flood can still be seen through certain parts of the building, but staff say the facilities are safe, sanitary and welcoming.
WLEX-TV reports that some parts of the school like the gym are still being reconstructed and the library staff is still unpacking dozens of donated books and supplies. But overall, principal Amber Stewart says the classrooms and floors were ready for students.
Stewart says teachers and staff are happy to be back with their 300 students.
"Just to see it be devastated like that, it was really hard. So just to see the improvements and see things kind of come into fruition has been amazing," said Stewart.
Other district schools are still undergoing repairs. Letcher County Schools superintendent Denise Yonts says that Whitesburg Middle School should be reopening in the upcoming weeks. There is no timeframe for when West Whitesburg Elementary School will reopen.
