Wake County school sustains terrible flood damage
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Vernon Malone College and Career Academy in Raleigh will remain closed through Tuesday after sustaining flood damage from Hurricane Matthew.
Wake County Public School System officials said it's unclear when the school will be able to reopen. Principal Ashlie Thompson is asking for patience from parents and students as they work out a way to get students back to learning.
"We are in the process of working on a plan that will get us back with our students as quickly as possible, and get our teachers back to teaching, and our students back to learning," Thompson said.
Officials say more than two dozen of the district's schools lost power Sunday. Schools were closed Monday and reopened Tuesday, except for Malone.
ABC11 got an inside look at the school Wednesday. Many of the walls have damage, and there are drenched textbooks and supplies still sitting in water. Teachers are packing up undamaged items.
Officials say the school's 358 9th-12th graders will miss at least four days of school because of the flood. The students started their fall break early and the school will remain closed through Tuesday, as originally planned.
A former Coca-Cola plant, the building had just opened two and a half years ago as a school. The school partners with Wake Tech Community College to offer career and technical education programs.
Thompson said she saw the damage Sunday morning.
"I'm very passionate about this school and I opened it with a lot of people and it has been a challenge," Thompson lamented.
She added that she has been heartened by the support of teachers and the district and the positive attitude of parents and students in response to the flooding.
