8 years after being wiped out in flood, new elementary ready for the school year

CLENDENIN, W.Va. (WSAZ) - It’s been eight years since Clendenin Elementary was wiped out by severe floods.

On Friday, students will have a brand new school.

Principal Angel Gurski said, “Everybody really kind of deserves this at this point, with everything that we’ve all been through.”

Gurksi said the students may not understand the work that went into the new facility, but it’s something everyone in the community can be grateful for.

“If I was an elementary student and I walked into this facility I would just think that I hit the lottery,” she said. “This is so nice from the top to the bottom.”

Clendenin Mayor Kay Summers said the new school was made possible with FEMA funds.

“I have worked on this for eight years and they were very understanding and without them we wouldn’t have this,” Summers said.

To avoid flood concerns entirely, the school is located on a hill. Mayor Summers said a health clinic was added to help the community.

“In case of another emergency, we can bring people here not only the schools. We can helicopter people in and get them out because we didn’t have that before in Clendenin.”

Clendenin Elementary officially opens its doors for students on Friday morning.