Tornado damage to Donald T. Shields Elementary causes district to move classes

Photo courtesy Red Oak ISD.

Donald T. Shields Elementary School in Red Oak, Texas.

RED OAK — Tornado damage to Donald T. Shields Elementary has caused Red Oak Independent School District (ROISD) to prepare an alternate location for students to attend school through the end of the school year.

Severe storms on Saturday, Dec. 26 caused significant damage at Donald T. Shields Elementary. No students or staff were on campus yesterday and no other campuses were damaged.

District officials surveyed Shields Elementary and determined that it would be safest for students and staff to temporarily hold school in an alternate location while the repairs are made.

Shields Elementary will be temporarily moved to the old Red Oak Junior High campus on Live Oak Street. The campus is currently vacant, making it ideal for this relocation. The duration of the relocation will last through the end of the school year while repairs are made.

Donald T. Shields Elementary on Live Oak Address: 101 Live Oak Street in Red Oak, Texas.

In the coming days, ROISD will communicate this transition with Shields Elementary families in more detail. Teams are currently planning for transportation, drop off, pick up and other important information. ROISD stated it is important to make this transition as easy as possible for students and staff.

"First, we are so thankful that school was not in session during this storm. Our thoughts and prayers are with those among our staff and families in the community who suffered damages and loss," ROISD Superintendent Dr. Scott Niven said. "We are fortunate to have the old junior high as the temporary home for Shields Elementary. It's important to remember that a building is just a building. The students, parents and staff are what make a school special. We will navigate these challenges as a family and we will be ready to welcome our kids back on January 5 into the Live Oak facility."

Many district supporters, employees and community members have expressed a desire to help in any way. ROISD will work to organize all support efforts and communicate those on the district website at www.redoakisd.org and on the district's Facebook and Twitter Accounts.