Twin Oaks Elementary works to repair damage from flood
BATON ROUGE – Major restoration is under way at 12 East Baton Rouge schools that were impacted by the recent flood, but Twin Oaks Elementary is on the fast track to get students back as soon as possible.
The elementary school received a foot and a half of flood water. Earl Kern is currently overseeing the repairs.
"When you are dealing with students, children, small children it's got to be clean safe and ready for them to come back to school," Kern said.
The damage is estimated at $900,000 and that is not counting the learning materials and furniture that was damaged. Kern says that replacing damaged dry-wall is the most extensive part of the repairs.
According to Superintendent Warren Drake, Twin Oaks Elementary is at the top of the list for schools in need of repairs.
"It's also a priority because these students are being transferred to three different schools so we want to make sure they are in a safe school and back here as quickly as possible," Drake said.
Kern says an environmental expert is overseeing every aspect of the repairs.
"He tells you down to details on how high up to clean desks, what chemicals to use and he comes back and checks the air samples," Kern said.
When the students do come back, they will have a new and improved school and officials say they hope to reopen by Oct. 3.