School leaders in Robeson County anxious to return to class
TRAGEDY, HE HAS SEEN THE BEST
OF NORTH CAROLINA.
>>> LEADERS IN ROBE SOP COUNTY
SCHOOLS SAY THEY PLAN TO GET
STUDENTS BACK IN CLASS MONDAY
AFTER MISSING TWO WEEKS OF
SCHOOL.
ROBE SOB COUNTY WAS AMONG THE
HARDEST HIT BY FLOOD WATERS
AFTER HURRICANE MATTHEW.
THREE OF THE COUNTY'S SCHOOLS
ARE STILL SERVING AS SHELTERS.
BRYAN MIMS SHOWS US ONE SCHOOL
WHERE THE BELLS WILL NOT BE
RINGING ANY TIME SOON.
>> Reporter: A SMALL SCHOOL,
WEST LUMBERTON ELEMENTARY.
ABOUT 130 CHILDREN, SMALLEST
SCHOOL IN ROBESON COUNTY.
BUT THE AMOUNT OF FLOOD DAMAGE
IS GREATER THAN THE REST.
>> IT IS DEVASTATING.
>> Reporter: THIS IS TARA
BULLARD'S SECOND YEAR AS
PRINCIPAL.
THESE ARE HALLWAYS.
ELECTRONICS STUFFED IN BINS
LIKE CRAP HEAP.
>> OUT IN THE PUBLIC, I HAVE
BEEN VERY STOIC ABOUT IT.
BUT IT IS VERY EMOTIONAL.
THIS SCHOOL MEANS A LOT TO ME
AND MY FAMILY.
>> Reporter: THERE IS NO
TELLING WHEN THE CHILDREN CAN
FILL THESE HALLS AGAIN.
SO MUCH TO CLEAN UP, TO FIX UP
AND UNTIL THEN --
>> WE'RE LOOKING AT OTHER
FACILITIES APPEAR OTHER PLACES
THAT WE CAN PUT THOSE KIDS.
>> Reporter: SUPERINTENDENT
THOMAS LOWRY SAYS ALL OTHER
SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTY SHOULD BE
READY FOR CLASSES COME MONDAY.
>> A LOT OF OUR SCHOOLS ARE IN
GOOD HAPPEN.
>> Reporter: BUT NOT HIS OFFICE
OF.
THE LUMBER RIVER WRECKED
DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS WHERE
OFFICE EQUIPMENT IS STREWN
ABOUT AND GUNK COATS THE FLOOR.
>> RIGHT NOW, WE'RE WORKING OUT
OF THE CAR.
>> WE ARE WORKING OUT OF OUR
CARS IN DIFFERENT AREAS, JUST
MOVING AROUND BEING MOBILE.
>> Reporter: AS FOR THE SCHOOL
BUSES, 14 BUSES AND ACTIVITY
VANS WERE DAMAGED IN THE FLOOD
SO NEARLY ALL OF THEM CAN GET
BACK ON THE ROAD AGAIN THOUGH
THERE ARE SURE TO BE
ROADBLOCKS.
SOME BRIDGES AND ROADS WASHED
AWAY MEANING LONGER ROUTES TO
SCHOOL.
AT WEST LUMBERTON, THE
PRINCIPAL'S SHIRT SAYS GOD WILL
MAKE A WAY.
SHE SO MISSES HER KIDS.
>> IT IS REAL IMPORTANT FOR THE
CHILDREN TO HAVE CONSISTENCY
AND TO HAVE THEIR TEACHERS BACK
WITH THEM.
>> Reporter: BACK TO SOME SENSE
OF NORMAL.
WE ALL WANT TO HEAL TOGETHER.
>> Reporter: THAT IS NO SMALL
THING.
BRYAN MIMS, WRAL NEWS,
LUMBERTON.
>> PRESENT LOWRY SAY HE HAS
SPOKEN WITH THE GOVERNOR ABOUT
FORGIVING THE TWO WEEK OF
INSTRUCTION MISSED MEANING THAT
CLASS TIME WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE
PAID UP.