Wynne HS students return to temporary campus after tornado

WYNNE, Ark. — Thursday was the first day of school for Wynne Public Schools in east Arkansas, but as students and teachers come back, the district continues to rebuild after last year’s devastating tornado.

Twenty-five hundred students in Wynne Public Schools, the home of the Yellowjackets, went back to school Thursday.

“It’s been great. This is the first time in two years now that our kids have started all at one place, one location,” said Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Moore.

For students attending high school, the start of a new school year means attending class on their temporary campus.

“We fail to understand how resilient kids can be and to see our senior class step up the way they have and take to the new campus and not complain and know that this is a needed thing,” said Communications Officer Aaron Russell.

On March 31, 2023, a tornado touched down in Wynne , destroying businesses, homes, the high school, and lives.

Repairs are still being made to damaged buildings.

“The arena where we are in right now still has to have the roof done and all the windows and doors replaced. The old library still needs a roof. When that is done, the damaged buildings will be finished. We’re hoping to get started on the new high school soon, but we still don’t have that approval from the state of Arkansas,” said Moore.

The district has since unveiled renderings of the new Wynne High School. Russell said the design incorporates tornado facilities for students.

“We are praying and hoping as things get rebuilt, we see some families move back,” Moore said.

• Do Olympic medalists get paid? It depends
• Novak Djokovic wins his first Olympic gold medal
• Scottie Scheffler wins Olympic gold medal in golf thriller
• “Get that gun out of my face”: Man allegedly points gun at boyfriend during an argument
• Suni Lee picks up her third medal in Paris

Wynne Public Schools hopes to have a tentative groundbreaking for the new high school on August 26.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.