UPDATE: Whitehall Pre-K closed due to hail damage; students, staff to move to Nova Elementary

JACKSON, Tenn. — School leaders spoke with us Wednesday about the plan to get students back at Whitehall Pre-K Center.

School officials decided Tuesday night that the building would remain closed for the rest of the week because of hail damage from a storm last Thursday.

They say because of winter break officials didn’t get a good look at the damage until Monday.

Insurance adjusters visited the school Wednesday to get a better look at the hailstorm’s aftermath, including water damage in classrooms as well as holes in most of the roof.

“When the hail storm came through, basically the rain was moving out with it, so we didn’t see a lot of water coming into the school,” said Allen Powell, director of maintenance with Jackson-Madison County Schools. “When we noticed the water coming into the school, it was actually Monday afternoon, Monday night.”

In a news release Wednesday night, Superintendent Verna Ruffin announced the school will be closed indefinitely. Dr. Ruffin said they plan to move Whitehall students to the Nova Elementary School building beginning Jan. 18.

The release states Whitehall staff are to report at 8 a.m. Friday to the Pre-K center to receive instructions on preparing for the move to Nova Elementary.