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Jones County Schools Canceled Due To Flooding

Valerie Crowder

School district leaders in Jones County are working to decide where to place about 400 students at Jones Middle School and Trenton Elementary School after both buildings were damaged in historic flooding from Hurricane Florence. 

"Unfortunately, both took in approximately two-to-three feet [of water] in areas of the building.  We prepared well, we think, and were able to salvage some things," said Michael Bracy, the district's superintendent. 

It's unlikely district leaders will choose to repair the damaged buildings, Bracy said. "We are currently in the process of building a brand new K-12 school that will be housing the students where the two schools were destroyed because of the hurricane," Bracy said.  

Because the flood-damaged schools were scheduled to close next year regardless of the storm, he thinks the "most cost-effective decision" is to not spend money on repairs to those buildings, Bracy said.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Bracy told reporters the district is considering reopening schools on Oct. 15. School board leaders will meet on Oct. 1 to decide where to temporarily place the middle school and elementary school students.

Bracy says district leaders are considering putting the middle school students at Jones Senior High School and the Trenton Elementary School students at other elementary schools throughout the county. 

"Pollocksville, Maysville and Comfort -- we're looking at available space at those three schools," Bracy said.