Students returned to their regular schools and classrooms this fall after a flurry of summer activity throughout the district. Here are some details on each building impacted by the tornado and the continued recovery efforts and timelines.

Wyman Elementary’s roof repair is complete, and all classrooms impacted by the storm have been restored. The playground equipment and the poured-in-place rubber surfacing were installed this week, bringing the construction at Wyman to a close.

Mark Twain Elementary is still without its cafeteria, but progress is being made. You’ve likely noticed the windows facing Salem Avenue have not yet been replaced. Those windows will be part of the larger construction project, which will include all windows on the south side of the building and the new cafeteria/storm shelter. The new cafeteria will sit on the corner of Salem and Leonard Avenues, as the structure will be too large to fit on the original site. Storm shelter specs require the footings to be spaced away from the rest of the building, and the overall footprint will be larger than the old cafeteria. Plans are being finalized, and bid packets will be released soon. Work will start this winter with an anticipated completion in late summer of 2027.

Rolla Middle School students have been in their regular classrooms since the start of the school year, using temporary HVAC units while they waited for the delivery and installation of the permanent units on the RMS roof. All new units have been installed, and teams are wrapping up the connections to those units this week. The final project on the RMS property will be the softball field. Plans have been finalized, and a contractor has been approved. Work is set to begin in the next few weeks.

We appreciate all the support we have received from the community and the tireless efforts of our faculty and staff to ensure a safe, enjoyable learning environment for all students in the wake of the spring tornado. Thank you to all who have contributed time, energy, and donations to help our Bulldog community recover quickly.