Ringgold Middle School was severely damaged after numerous tornadoes touched down throughout the North Georgia and Chattanooga area.
Staff photo by Dan Henry/Chattanooga Times Free PressSCHOOLS CLOSED TODAYBradley CountyCatoosa County *Cleveland CityDade CountyHamilton CountyDistrict will be out of school all next week
RINGGOLD, Ga. – After she’d wiped away tears started by seeing pictures of her son’s destroyed middle school, Ringgold resident Kristy Heflin wanted answers.
“I’m very concerned about where my child is going to finish his school year at. Where will they go? When are we going to know?” she asked. “I know [school officials] have other things to take care of, but we’ve got kids who are needing an education, as well.”
After Wednesday’s tornadoes destroyed much of Ringgold Middle School, Mayor Joe Barger said it would be at least six months before students could return to the building. Catoosa County Schools has called off classes for next week.
Across the state line in Bradley County, Tenn., Blue Springs and Michigan Avenue elementary schools also were damaged significantly and will be closed for the rest of the school year, County Mayor Gary Davis said.