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Massac County Kids Go Back to School

Posted: Tuesday, May 10th

By: Christen Craig

MASSAC COUNTY-- As water levels drop students are going back to school.

May is typically the month teacher’s start winding things down for summer-- but not this year.

At Massac County Junior High, students are getting back in the grind.

Classes resumed Tuesday in Massac County after more than a week off because of the flooding. But some 200 students can't go to their regular school.

Brookport is still under an evacuation. Officials fear a weak spot in the levee will give way-- so Brookport Elementary can't hold classes.

For now, 1st through 3rd graders will attend classes at Unity School and the 4th through 6th graders will go the Massac County Junior High.

Some like Decoven Grubbs are not even back in their homes yet.

"It was crazy, we had to pack-up, put our clothes on high ground and just get out."

He's one of dozens of displaced Brookport students attending classes at Massac County Junior High.

Every student has a story.

"By my house there was this house halfway under water and I guess they gave up on sandbagging," says Brookport 6th grader Micaela Wmack.

"They're doing phenomenally better than I thought they would have, considering they're worried about their houses and families. I had 100% attendance today," says 6th grade teacher Jeremy Tirtle.

Administrators are in the process of determining who needs support.

"In the terms of either physical-- clothes, food that kind of thing, or actually counseling," says Will Black Brookport's Co-Principal.

Older students are being supportive of the younger Brookport students.

"It's kind of cool because they get to see how it will be when they're older. They look up to you and you get to be an example. I like it," says 8th grader Madison Schmidt.

Some of the junior high kids are displaced themselves.

"I have to take a boat to get to our house. Houses around me are completely destroyed," says 8th grader Christina Whitthorne.

They've been spending their days sandbagging and helping anyway they can.

"I got tons of blisters on my hands. My arms are sore, legs were sore," says Schmidt.

"I've also been helping at a shelter my church has put on for the homeless," says Witthorne.

And surprisingly, most students are glad to be back in school-- a taste of normal life again.

"Kind of takes my mind off some stuff that has happened," says Witthorne.

Students will not have to make up the days they missed.