More than 400 volunteers answered a call from the Red Oak Independent School District Monday, helping salvage items from Daniel T. Shields Elementary School.
The school was damaged by high wind Saturday as strong storms pushed through Ellis and Dallas counties, spawning several tornadoes.
Exterior walls were blown down, debris is scattered throughout the school and the ceiling and roof are caving in in many areas. Anything that could be saved -- desks, chairs, tables and boxes of items -- were taken in trailers to Red Oak Jr. High School.
Red Oak officials said the school will be closed until repairs can be made. Meanwhile, about 500 Shields Elementary students will attend Red Oak Jr. High next semester. The campus has been vacant for four years. The school will now be called Shields on Live Oak.
"We are fortunate to have the old junior high as the temporary home for Shields Elementary. It's important to remember that a building is just a building. The students, parents and staff are what make a school special. We will navigate these challenges as a family and we will be ready to welcome our kids back on Jan. 5," Superintendent Dr. Scott Niven said.
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District officials said anyone who wants to volunteer or donate to the school can email volunteer@redoakisd.org. Donations will be accepted from 8 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday at the Acorn Community and Family Services Center located at 101 Live Oak Street
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NBC 5/Kroger Team Up For Tornado Relief
NBC 5 and Kroger are teaming up to get help to the victims of the deadly tornadoes that tore through North Texas on Dec. 26. Spare change will be collected in boxes at the check-out registers at every DFW-area Kroger grocery store. All of the money will go to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.
