Donors will fund and construct two temporary facilities for Crestview Elementary and Crestview Middle schools, Tipton County Schools announced Wednesday.
The schools were both catastrophically damaged after taking a direct hit in the March 31 EF-3 tornado, displacing an estimated 1,300 students and faculty members.
“The Ford Fund, along with Walbridge, Sunbelt Rentals, United Rentals, Phillips & Jordan, Ideal Contracting, and ArchKey, have partnered with TCS to provide these structures to serve our students and staff at no cost to the district for the remainder of the 22-23 school year,” TCS Director of Instruction Dr. Rebekah Byrd said.
Two temporary buildings will be constructed in Baltzer Field, a baseball field adjacent to the Covington Aquatic Center in Cobb Parr Park.
Construction is expected to take up to three weeks and up to 20,000 trade hours.
Ford and Walbridge, working together on Ford’s BlueOval City project in neighboring Haywood County, have provided $500,000 for this project. The donors will provide funding, labor, equipment, and infrastructure.
“Tipton County Schools wishes to express our appreciation to Ford’s BlueOval City, Walbridge, Sunbelt Rentals, United Rentals, Phillips & Jordan, Ideal Contracting, ArchKey and the City of Covington for their support and generous contributions,” Byrd said.
Learning support
While displaced, some students and teachers have been meeting at the Boys & Girls Club of the Hatchie River Region and Central Christian Church for learning support.
Elementary students attend from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Middle school students meet from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
As schools did during the COVID-19 quarantine, packets have been made available for download on the schools’ websites.
TN Ready testing set to begin
TN Ready testing is set to begin on April 17 and though Rep. Debra Moody (R-Covington) has requested special accommodations for Crestview students, who do have schools and may not have homes, at press time no answer had yet been provided by the state department of education.
Meal programs
Beginning this week, Crestview families can visit Charger Academy to pick up packaged breakfasts and lunches. Pick-up takes place Monday-Friday, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Distribution is done in a drive-thru manner at the front entrance.
The school is located on Bert Johnston Avenue, just up the hill from where the two Crestview temporary buildings will be located.
Author: Echo Day
Echo Day is an award-winning journalist, photographer and designer. She is currently The Leader's managing editor.
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