The kids of Ocracoke have a place to go back to school

Piles of desks, chairs, rugs, books and other equipment that had to be removed from the Ocracoke School. [Photo courtesy Ocracoke School]

The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching Board of Trustees voted unanimously Friday to allow Ocracoke School to use the NCCAT Ocracoke Campus building for secondary classes until January 2020. Other buildings on Ocracoke will also be used for the island’s 175 students during the recovery period.

The Ocracoke School in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian. [Courtesy Ocracoke School]

“Hyde County Schools Superintendent Steve Basnight reached out to me to see if they could utilize our facility,” said NCCAT Executive Director M. Brock Womble. “We feel like the most valuable thing NCCAT can do for Ocracoke School and Ocracoke Island is to be a resource to help them rebuild. During this time, we will continue to offer professional development at our western North Carolina campus in Cullowhee, online, and in schools throughout the state.”

Hurricane Dorian struck Ocracoke and the Outer Banks of North Carolina on Sept. 6. Historic flooding caused substantial property and vehicle damage throughout the island, including at Ocracoke School.

Ocracoke School had 40 inches of water inside the building in places, and severe damage to walls and floors as a result.

“I can’t thank NCCAT enough for allowing us this opportunity to get our kids back to school,” Basnight reported during the Board of Trustees meeting.

This story originally appeared on OBXToday.com. Read More local stories here.

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