Williamsburg Ind. donates old classroom furniture to school destroyed by flooding

Hundreds of desks, chairs and other essential classroom furniture that Williamsburg Independent School had originally intended to auction off following a recent remodel of its elementary and intermediate rooms are instead now being put to good use.

July’s historic flooding throughout multiple areas of eastern Kentucky left a wake of destruction, killing dozens and leaving even more without homes or even basic necessities.

Among the many structures that were impacted by the flood water’s carnage, some schools in the affected areas also sustained heavy to irreparable damage. As water levels have since subsided and the start of a new school year approaches, school districts are now tasked with finding ways to bring students back to classrooms that may not yet be ready for them.

Perry County was one of the five counties hardest hit by flooding. Two of the schools within the Perry County School District—Robinson Elementary School and Buckhorn School—were “totally destroyed,” as water approximately six-to-eight-feet high flowed through the two schools at one point, according to Paula Boggs, instructional supervisor for the district.

“We lost both schools,” said Boggs “They’re physically standing, but we can’t have school in them.”

For the upcoming school year, Perry County school officials decided to move students from both schools into the A.B. Combs Elementary School building, which closed its doors in 2017 and has since been vacant. But even with a cleanup effort underway to get the building back in working order, the district still needed the proper equipment to furnish the building before it opened its doors to students when they returned on Aug. 29.

“None of the furniture or anything is salvageable. We can’t even get in either school right now until it’s cleared through the engineers,” said Boggs.

Loren Connell, director of instruction at Williamsburg Independent, has become well-acquainted with Boggs over the years, as the two have attended a variety of school leadership trainings together. When Connell learned of the needs at Perry County, he was quick to offer help.

“She said they were having a real problem with school furniture,” said Connell. “Coincidentally or divine intervention or whatever adjective that you want to use, we had a surplus of a mountain of furniture.”

Boggs traveled to Williamsburg last week to check out the furniture to ensure her school district could make use of it. Shortly after, she posted a “thank you” note on the Perry County School District’s Facebook page, which received hundreds of shares and reactions.

Williamsburg Independent employees and a number of volunteers began loading the furniture onto trailers Monday morning and making trips to Perry County to deliver the items, allowing officials in Perry County to focus on cleaning the A.B. Combs building in preparation for school. Loading and transporting continued throughout Tuesday.

In total, Williamsburg Independent donated the following items: 375 student desks and chairs, 75 rectangular tables, 20 kidney tables, 20 teacher desks, 20 bookshelves and 20 various types of cabinets. University of the Cumberlands also donated a number of student and teacher desks.

“We’re really happy this stuff is going to find a great home and tickled to death our school system could help others that needed it,” said Connell.

Williamsburg Superintendent Tim Melton echoed Connell’s sentiment, noting that he felt it was an important decision that was easy to make.

“This is stuff is not bad stuff. It will serve a purpose for them and that’s what we want. We want to continue to help others—to help others be successful,” said Melton. “We play Perry County in football, and it’s good to be competitive, but it’s also good to take care of your neighbor and be a solution to a problem.”