Back To A New School At Herbert Hoover High School

After being destroyed by flooding seven years ago, Herbert Hoover High School will reopen for students Friday morning.

Principal Michael Kelley gave the media a tour of the new facility and said he is proud of his students and his community for their resilience.

“I believe our whole community is excited about the opportunities that are going to be here for our children. Our families and children have stuck with us all the way since the flood. We have continued to achieve at a level higher in every aspect,” Kelley said.

The modern 180,000 square foot construction includes weight rooms, an in-house clinic, an auditorium, media rooms and a career and technical center filled with the latest technology.

“In meetings with with FEMA and the School Building Authority and all kinds of folks after the flood, we were told they would basically try to build back what we lost but up to modern standards,” Kelley said.

Kelley said the best part about the building will be its students and teachers who have operated from FEMA portable buildings since the flood.

“I’m grateful to my staff, my two assistant principals have been working, while I’ve been working on construction and in managing that, they have worked very hard to get school ready to open,” Kelley said. “I think I’m looking forward to seeing the students’ faces tomorrow when they come in this building for the first time.”