Gordon ISD students return to tornado-damaged campus

GORDON, Texas - The first day of school on Thursday marked a fresh start for students in Gordon, about 65 miles west of Fort Worth.

Last spring, an EF-1 tornado damaged the main school building and the athletic fields. The district was forced to end the school year early.

Gordon ISD's First Day

What's new:

Gordon ISD's halls and classrooms were filled with smiles on Thursday. The students laughed and chatted endlessly with their friends, hugging their favorite teachers after what was more than a summer separation.

The tornado that damaged the school ended last school year early.

"I'm so relieved. I'll probably sleep better tonight than I have since May 18," said Superintendent Holly Campbell.

What they're saying:

"We're really excited to be here. My fourth grader woke up at 5:30 this morning just so excited to get back at it. She didn't get a proper goodbye from her teachers and she's ready to go," said Sarah Knight, a Gordon ISD parent.

"Last year we did not get to finish our pre-K year because the tornado hit. "So, I'm glad that we get to be back in our building and being able to drop off our kids into this newly built school," said Mirela Miles, a kindergarten mom. "I'm grateful for this administration that worked so hard, tirelessly to get us ready."

Miles said she's hoping for another great school year but with a much better ending.

Rebuilding Gordon ISD

What we know:

Crews worked all summer to make the repairs, and teachers worked quickly to get their classrooms set up in time for the first day. Many worked late on Wednesday to make sure everything was ready to go.

What they're saying:

Superintendent Campbell said the hardest part of the recovery process was probably been finding the manpower and coordinating efforts because Gordon is so small. The district only has one campus for its roughly 300 students in all grades.

"No one really expects to live through a tornado, so just getting all the pieces in motion. But through tragedy, I think just the most incredible thing that we’ve experienced is resiliency of this community and our staff and especially our kids," she said. "There's no class for superintendents on how to deal with something like this. And so it was a huge learning curve. But every day we just showed up and said what's the task today."

Rainbows have sort of become a symbol of hope for the district this year. They’re now decorating the hallways, the district’s Facebook page, and more.

"You know it's kind of the rainbow after the storm. We are kind of going with the Wizard of Oz theme after the tornado. We just want kids to have something fun and exciting but also know there is always something to learn out of a tragedy and hopefully they will have a good school year," Campbell said.

What's next:

While there is still some behind-the-scenes work that needs to be done inside the school buildings, the superintendent said everything is safe, clean, and beautiful for the students’ return.

Gordon ISD’s athletic fields also still need bleachers and lights, so the football and baseball teams will be traveling for every game.