Let the Hurricane Roar!

Rhonda Cagle Noteworthy Leave a Comment

Hurricane Matthew was a potentially catastrophic storm for much of the East Coast and also Imagine Schools in Florida. Nine Imagine campuses in the state were predicted to take the brunt of Matthew’s force as it made land.

As residents stocked up on non-perishable food, water, batteries, generators and other storm provisions, Imagine principals also took action to prepare. Our school leaders followed safety procedures and the warnings issued by local officials. Schools were closed with families and students encouraged to heed evacuation warnings and other safety precautions.

One principal reported sending the last students home, and then working with staff to secure the building as best as possible. She stated that after her staff members left, she locked the school’s doors, got in her car, and stared at her school building for several moments before driving away.

She felt helpless, knowing her school offers a place of safety and belonging as well as educational attainment for her students. Hurricane Matthew was threatening that place of achievement and hope.

As soon as the storm passed, principals and regional staff were immediately on the roads and en route to our nine Imagine campuses to assess the damage.

Minor damage to a student pick up waiting area.

Minor damage to a student pick up waiting area.

Like so many of the residents who were threatened by Hurricane Matthew, Imagine’s Florida staff breathed a sigh of relief when they discovered Matthew’s damage to be minimal. Other than a few downed trees and minor damage to a storage shed and student pick up shade structure, all nine Imagine campuses emerged essentially unscathed.

Several Imagine Florida campuses reported downed trees after Hurricane Matthew.

Several Imagine Florida campuses reported downed trees after Hurricane Matthew.

We are grateful that our Florida campuses quickly reopened to welcome back students and staff.

One of our staff members summed up Matthew’s impact by stating, “Our buildings can be rebuilt. They are only buildings.

“Our schools are really the students and staff of Imagine Schools. They are safe and back to learning and growing as scholars and citizens. That’s what is truly worth celebrating.”

We couldn’t agree more.

 

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