First came the flood. Then came the tears.
Tears from fear that Skyuka Hall’s almost 100 students wouldn’t have had a school come August after a water main break and a roof collapse destroyed the independent school’s former location on Mountain Creek Road. And fear that school leaders would not secure a new location within the 45 days given to them by the school’s accreditation organization, the Southern Association of Independent Schools.
Tears of exhaustion as the school’s 22-member staff visited new locations, inventoried the wreckage for insurance claims and reached out to the community for donations.
And finally, tears of joy when staffers were handed the keys to their new, temporary home – Chattanooga Charter School of Excellence’s former location. When the walls were painted, books were donated and furniture delivered.
Staff photo by Doug Strickland /
Head of school Josh Yother mows the grass around the playground at Skyuka Hall’s new location in the former site of Chattanooga Charter School of Excellence on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn. This will be the first time the school has been in a location with a playground. The independent school was forced to relocate after a water main break ruined the school’s previous location. Thanks to community support and donations, they were able to move to the new location in Eastgate Town Center.When teachers saw their new classrooms for the first time, they were armed with supplies and ready to prepare the school for its students in less than a week.