SNOW HILL — On April 16, 2011, a tornado swept through Snow Hill, damaging Greene County Middle School beyond repair. Two years later, fully rebuilt on its original site and at a cost of $12 million, Greene Middle is ready to open its doors to students and staff for the 2013-14 school year.
In the aftermath of the storm, residents and staff were devastated when they saw the damage to the school.
“I couldn’t believe that it happened to us,” said Laura Eastman, a teacher’s assistant.
In order to finish out that school year, Greene Middle had to combine with Greene Central High School, with its classes being held in the morning and high school in the afternoon.
Mobile units were brought in to service students and staff during what would be a two-year rebuilding process.
The units, while adequate, provided a variety of challenges for administrative staff and teachers, moving students from unit to unit during inclement weather.
Communication among staff was hard, as well, and sometimes people would go a long time without seeing each other.
“If you didn’t work in the same building, you never saw them,” said Nickie Armstrong, a seventh grade English teacher.
The basic floor plan remains the same as the original building, but there have some been some minor changes that have acted as improvements. The gymnasium is now air-conditioned and the width of the building was extended by 10 feet.
Other improvements include a sprinkler system and exterior windows with higher wind resistance.
Teachers note that while there is a difference, the school remains the same.
“It’s a different paint color but it still feels like home,” Armstrong said.
Principal Norman McDuffie, who has been the principal since November 2012, is optimistic about the school going forward.
“The sky’s the limit, really,” McDuffie said.
According to McDuffie, various activities to help kids get excited about learning are planned for the new year, including a science fair and a return of the Battle of Books competition.
Due to a lack of space in the mobile units, Deborah Fleming, who has been teaching for 22 years, had to teach at Greene Central during the last two years. Now, she is ecstatic to be teaching consumer science in the same classroom where she taught before the tornado hit.
“Middle school is my heart,” Fleming said. “I plan to retire here.”
Open house for sixth grade will be held Monday at 5:30 p.m.; for seventh and eighth grades, it will be held Aug. 22 at 1 p.m.
Noah Clark can be reached at 252-559-1073 or at Noah_Clark@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @NClark763.