NORTH CAROLINA – Next week marks a month since Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina. The deadly storm brought heavy rain, causing massive flooding and landslides that destroyed both homes and lives. In the aftermath of the storm, public schools in the area opened their doors, to serve as shelters and resource centers for the community, with both educators and students working to help those in need- proving the adage that public schools are the heart of our communities. One teacher even learned how to use a forklift.
Educator learns to use a forklift as she organizes distribution center. Mebane Rash / EdNC
Here are a few of the headlines:
- In North Carolina, Education Leaders Team Up in the Wake of Hurricane Helene
- Ashe County using schools as distribution sites after Helene
- North Carolina schools mobilize after Hurricane Helene as Florida braces for Milton
- In McDowell County, education leaders band together in the wake of Hurricane Helene
- With donations pouring in, this [school] district set up a distribution site complete with delivery service
“Our public schools are the heart of our communities. That has been reinforced with the efforts by our schools, educators, and students in Western North Carolina and by our public schools across the state sending help to those in need.” - Tamika Walker Kelly, President of the North Carolina Association of Educators.
Not only have WNC public schools stepped up, but public-school communities across the state are finding ways to provide relief, aid, and comfort to their public-school families still in harm’s way. Here are just a few of the examples of public schools stepping up across North Carolina:
- Just days after the storm, the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools sent water and heavy equipment to Ashe County. Now they are working to accommodate displaced students.
- Wayne County Schools are holding a district-wide “Coins for a Cause” drive through November 6 to purchase gift cards and collect donations for students and families impacted by the storm.
- Southern Guilford High School students started their own donation drive.
- Nearly three dozen high schools across North Carolina held fundraisers to provide necessities and raise money for aid.
- Lumberton High School is even contributing wrestling gear to WNC schools.
As the North Carolina General Assembly returns to Raleigh this week to consider more WNC relief legislation, public schools must play an important role in the recovery. Here are just a few NC opinion-makers on the subject:
“North Carolina’s public schools have always been more than mere institutions of learning — they are vibrant hubs of heart and hard work that build and nourish community culture, pride, and togetherness. They bring together students, families, and stakeholders from diverse backgrounds in pursuit of one of the most vital public goods: education.” - Kimberly Jones and Deanna Townsend-Smith in EdNC
“Every day, our students and staff accomplish incredible things in public schools across the state. In the coming months, many public school communities will accomplish more than they ever imagined. Not only will they serve every student, regardless of background, ability, or income, public schools will also keep our communities safe, our families fed, and all of our lives a little more stable. Our kids deserve a strong and resilient state—let’s rebuild Western North Carolina with a recognition that our public schools are at the heart of what makes that possible.” - NCAE Vice President Bryan Proffitt in the Charlotte Observer
“Even in a time of crisis, our public schools continue to serve their communities. If we continue to underfund these schools, we risk their closing, leaving families with no or few viable options, especially in rural communities. We cannot take our local public schools for granted. They are often the backbone of our communities and serve over 1,500,000 children and their families. Those children need their schools to be funded and supported.” - Elizabeth Paul of the NC Public School Forum via WRAL
“HB 10 will irresponsibly pass taxpayers’ bucks by enabling students in private schools to underperform by any measure while getting rewarded with hundreds of millions of public dollars flowing into their classrooms. No strings attached. No accountability. Yet there are public schools in western North Carolina needing either repair or a complete rebuild. Hurricane Helene was monstrous. Its shadow will hover over the state for a really long time.” - John McCann commentary in NC Newsline
