By: Lawrence Smith
HENRYVILLE, Ind.. -- (WDRB) The Henryville School, nearly destroyed
by the March 2nd tornado, reopens tomorrow. Construction is wrapping up,
and teachers will be allowed back to prepare for the students' return.
When
the teachers are welcomed back on Wednesday, it will have been nearly 5
months to the day since the March 2nd tornado ripped apart Henryville's
School.
Cameras were not allowed inside today, but from the
street, you can see work crews putting the finishing touches on the
reconstruction.
Few believed that the building would actually be finished in such a short time.
"The day after the storm, I was thinking maybe two years."
High
school principal Troy Albert and his office staff have spent the summer
in this makeshift office at the old Sellersburg Elementary School. He
is anxious to get to his new - old surroundings.
"We know it's
not going to be perfect. Our furniture doesn't come in the office until
after school starts. But we'll have a table, a chair, a place to sit, a
place to meet with parents, and we'll be ready to go."
WDRB News got an exclusive look behind the scenes of the rebuilding two weeks ago.
Even then, some classrooms were ready to occupy.
When teachers return, they'll find some of their old supplies rescued from the storm.
"I've
been told, we'll have boxes in our rooms of things that could be
salvaged. So, it will be really interesting to go in and get our rooms
organized.And get ready for the kids to come in Tuesday," said Karen
Albert."
It's just going to be a really emotional setting, I think. I think people will be glad at what they see," said Troy Albert.
And what they will see is a combination of the old and the new. The familiar building updated with new color and new technology.
"I
can still see those images of the school, what it looked like. To look
at this today, it's just mind-boggling. It's really amazing. Hard to
believe," said Karen.
"I appreciate all the efforts of the
community members that worked at the school because they showed a lot of
pride in making sure it got done right," said Troy.
A community open house is scheduled for this Sunday. Then, August 7, the students return for the first day of school.
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