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Triumph over tragedy: How Wynne High is moving forward one year after a tornado destroyed the school

The EF-3 tornado hit the town of Wynne on March 31, 2023, completely destroying the town's only high school. Now, the focus is on the future.

WYNNE, Ark. — It’s been one year since a deadly string of tornadoes moved through the Mid-South on March 31, 2023. As the months pass by, the process of rebuilding and moving on is slowly continuing. There’s plenty of progress in one small Eastern Arkansas town that was hit particularly hard.

The storm moves in

It was a warm and muggy spring morning in the town of Wynne, Ark., about 40 miles west of Memphis. In general, it was business as usual. The town’s population of just over 8,000 people woke up, had breakfast, and got ready for another day of school and work.

That includes Wynne High School Principal Dusty Meek, whose day started normally. Before opening the school, he had meetings with school and district staff, which included discussions on the potential of severe weather later in the day.

Meteorologists had been expecting another strong round of thunderstorms that afternoon and evening, just one week after a tornado hit the community of Rolling Fork, Miss., killing 17 people.

By that afternoon, weather forecasts had grown more concerning. Meteorologist from the National Weather Service in Memphis noted a growing threat of “long-tracked supercells capable of producing strong to potentially violent tornadoes” in their midday bulletin.

Wynne officials made the decision to release schools early to ensure students and staff could be home before the worst of the weather arrived. Students were released from classes just before a storm produced a tornado in Little Rock. That complex of thunderstorms continued to move east toward Wynne.

At 4:14 p.m., the first Tornado Warning was issued, which included Cross County and the city of Wynne. By 4:30 p.m., storm spotters reported a tornado quickly approaching the city of Wynne. 

Credit: Jeff Friedman
The first few moments of the Wynne tornado were captured by storm chaser Jeff Friedman in western Cross County, Ark.

The National Weather Service later upgraded their bulletin to a Tornado Emergency, indicating the threat of a violent and potentially deadly situation.

Credit: NWS
The National Weather Service bulletin issued at 4:40 p.m. that Friday afternoon painted a grim picture for the town of Wynne.

Minutes later, the EF-3 tornado hit Wynne with winds of 150 miles per hour. Dozens of homes and businesses were left destroyed, and 4 people were killed.

Wynne High School took a direct hit from the tornado. Much of the school’s roof collapsed, walls fell into classrooms, and chunks of the turf from the football field were blown dozens of miles away into Tennessee.

Because of the decision to release staff and students early, no one was hurt at Wynne High School. However, the main school building was declared a total loss.

Credit: ABC24
Wynne High School was left nearly unrecognizable after the deadly tornado of March 31

“What do you do?”

Minutes after the storm passed, a coach at the high school called Principal Meek to let him know of the severe damage at the school. When he arrived on campus, it was hard to determine the next steps.

“It’s just kind of like, well, what do you do?”, Meek said. “It really was tough.”

That night and over the next several days, volunteers salvaged what they could from the school building. Any desks, computers, trophies, or diplomas that could be saved were moved out of the building by staff, students, and residents just wanting to help. Help even came in from surrounding communities.

After a few weeks of virtual learning, students returned to in-person learning at a nearby community college. It was somewhat unconventional, with certain grades only attending for part of the week and some classes taking place in hallways – but the students and staff of Wynne High School were able to be back together in person.

A glimmer of hope

Wynne High School seniors like Megan Hess were expecting to walk across their football field to get their diploma in a matter of weeks – a football field that no longer existed.

“We’re supposed to walk across the field in a month and a half, and we don’t have a field to walk across,” said Hess.

Credit: ABC24
Wynne High School graduate Megan Hess stands near the entrance to the former Wynne High where she spent nearly four years - now only an empty field.

Staff went the extra mile to ensure their senior students could still get the experience of high school graduation, even if it did look a little different. Plans were made for the school’s graduation to be held at the Arkansas State arena just up the road in Jonesboro.

During cleanup efforts, volunteers found that parts of the turf from the football field were still in place, and they were able to cut out a 3 from the 30-yard line. Feet away, in a pile of twisted metal and turf, a preserved number 2 was found.

School officials placed this 2 and 3 together on the floor of the A-State arena to bring a piece of home to the Class of 2023 as they graduated in an unfamiliar place.

“That was really special,” Principal Meek said.

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders spoke at the graduation ceremony, offering words of hope and encouragement.

“You’re not just an inspiration to your community, you’re an inspiration to the entire state of Arkansas,” the governor told students.

Credit: Dusty Meek
The class of 2023 at Wynne High School listens to Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders speak at their graduation.

Moving forward

It would be several more years before a new, permanent Wynne High School could be constructed. Until then, officials had to find a way to get classes back together.

Over the summer, plans were made for a temporary school campus to be constructed. Concrete was poured in July, and by the first week of September, students were filling the walkways of their temporary school.

Credit: ABC24
Students walk between buildings on the temporary campus of Wynne High School on March 7, 2024.

Students have classes in pods made from shipping containers, complete with projector screens and an air conditioning unit. Bigger spaces, like the auditorium, cafeteria, and gym, are in tents with walls made of PVC. Most importantly, it allows all 700+ students to be in the same place without the need for staggering in-person days due to space limitations.

Credit: ABC24
Classroom buildings are seen on the temporary campus of Wynne High School on March 7, 2024.

It may not look like a normal high school, but students and staff have made it feel like home for the few years they will be here. You’ll see some teachers taking advantage of the outdoor space to arrange plants in front of their classroom, and you’ll even find the Wynne Yellowjacket on the floor of the gym.

Credit: ABC24
The Wynne Yellowjacket mascot is part of the flooring of the gym at the temporary Wynne High School.

Even in the temporary school, safety was top of mind. The campus is outfitted with dozens of tornado safe rooms which can fit all staff and students in the event of severe weather.

This will be the reality for Wynne High School students and staff for the next several years as a new building is constructed on the school site. The new school is expected to be completed by 2026 after a groundbreaking later this year.

While Principal Meek and other staff are working on getting the new high school ready for construction, his main concern is the students that walk through the temporary campus today.

“Right now, we’re focusing on the now, and worried about what we gotta do here to get these kids graduated, ready to be successful.”

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