East Brainerd Elementary students won't be returning to their tornado-ravaged school building this August - instead, they're going to middle school.
While the school building on Goodwin Road is repaired, East Brainerd students and teachers will be housed at the new East Hamilton Middle School, district officials decided this week.
Other options considered included retrofitting a warehouse, using the former elementary school building or rezoning students to surrounding elementary schools temporarily.
"There are going to be some hardships coming back, but it keeps those 1,200 elementary kids together in the same building," the district's Chief Operations Officer Justin Robertson told the Times Free Press. "We've been dealt a hand that was really difficult, and we're trying to do the best we can for everyone involved. This is what we feel is the best option for students at East Brainerd."
The school was severely damaged by an EF3 tornado that struck Chattanooga on Easter Sunday, and initial estimates to repair it are at least $18 million. At least 21 classrooms were completely destroyed, and other areas of the school were damaged.
District officials still hope that students and teachers will be able to move back into the school by January 2021.
The plan will affect the more than 1,700 students at East Hamilton. The new middle school is intended to relieve overcrowding at the 6-12 school and will have enough space for 1,200 students in grades 6-8, leaving the current middle/high school just for grades 9-12.
The school board approved plans earlier this year to rezone neighborhoods in the eastern part of Hamilton County into Ooltewah to also relieve overcrowding at Ooltewah Middle and High School. Those students will still be slated to move to East Hamilton this fall.
Students can opt to stay at their current school until they finish either middle or high school, but they won't be provided transportation and younger siblings won't be eligible to be grandfathered in, Robertson said.
The district plans to add temporary modular classrooms to the current middle/high school campus to ensure there is room at the already-overcrowded school this fall.
"We are currently working on a plan to add some classroom space at the middle/high school to accommodate students," Robertson said.
School leaders do expect some challenges when using a school designed for middle school for elementary school. Some East Brainerd teachers have already been tapped to help ensure classrooms meet the needs of the youngest students. Some classrooms designed to be science labs might need to be adjusted to function as normal classrooms, and the school won't have playgrounds typically found at elementary schools.
"The positive is we have athletic fields there. We have places that kids can get out and run around and throw stuff, they just won't have playgrounds," Robertson said. "They'll have gym space for days that it is raining, though, which elementary schools don't typically have."
Many East Brainerd families are also looking at a longer bus ride or commute to the new middle school.
"It's going to be longer than what they are typically used to, traffic isn't going to be what they are typically used to. We recognize it's going to be a hardship," Robertson said.
The district plans on providing maps and meeting with parents this summer to ensure an easy transition.
Students will also see a new face this school year. Marthel Young, East Brainerd's current principal, was already planning on retiring at the end of the year before the coronavirus and tornado hit.
Saunya Goss, the current elementary director for the Opportunity Zone, has been tapped to take over for Young and lead the school through the transition, according to a news release from the district Friday.
"High-quality leadership is vital to the success of our schools and learning communities as we push forward to higher achievement, even with the knowledge that certain challenges lie ahead," said Neelie Parker, chief schools officer, in a statement. "We understand the gravity of the school dynamic and how a quality leader manages change and sets the focus and culture, leading to the ultimate success of children in our schools."
Contact Meghan Mangrum at mmangrum@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6592. Follow her on Twitter @memangrum.