Mayor Roper Thanks Vidalia City School System
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During the November 12 meeting of the Vidalia City Schools Board of Education Vidalia Mayor Doug Roper thanked Superintendent Sandy Reid and the Board for their staff and students’ help during the Hurricane Helene relief efforts.
R oper began his address to the Board by recapping the weather conditions which the city has faced this year. “You go back to May, and since then, you’ve had tornadoes, a tropical storm, a category two hurricane, and now historic flooding – that has been taxing on all of us,” he stressed.
He continued, reflecting on the days after the hurricane. “We really had to push through the emotions of being overwhelmed with the complete devastation that had incurred,” Roper remarked. “For day one, what we had to figure out was water – we all can go a long time without certain things, but we cannot go very long without water. Day two, we had to get some looting under control, clear roads, and strengthen our law enforcement presence through mutual aid. Day three’s focus was fuel, and that wasn’t fuel for the public – that was fuel to keep first responders on the roads to get to people in need.”
According to Roper, it was the fourth day when the school system became involved in the efforts, as local leaders worked to obtain food and resources for citizens within the area. “We were reached out to by four different organizations, one of which was Convoy of Hope, which is a part of [Board Member Andy] Blount’s church. When I reached out to Dr. Reid and told her what this group could do and the space that they would need, it was an immediate, ‘Yes, you can absolutely use our facilities.’ Hundreds of people were fed that day because of that collaboration,” he told the Board. “The Cajun Navy, Dan’s Hurricane Pals, and United Flight Source also reached out to us and were literally flying in supplies and resources to the airport. Your staff, your teachers, and your athletes were literally on standby to unload planes. On day one, that first group flew in 23 planes with supplies to the airport, and any time we called upon Dr. Reid, a coach, a teacher, or athletes for help, they were there.”
The amount of support by Vidalia City Schools students and employees continued to grow days after the hurricane, as when the city created a distribution center for supplies, it was these individuals who helped to hand out supplies. “There was a lot of support from the school system for that distribution center,” Roper assured.
He continued, “I had a chance to come to the school last week and swear in some student government officers. I was able to thank those kids – I don’t know if all of them were in the room at that time, but it was great to be able to say that in that setting. But it was important for me to be here tonight to tell the board and Dr. Reid how much we appreciated your collaboration because we literally could not have done it without you. It took a team; it took everyone moving in one direction. So, on behalf of the city, we want to say thank you.”
The mayor gave Superintendent Reid letters that had come on one of the first planes of aid from elementary and middle school students as a “thank you” to the leader.
During the business portion of the meeting, the Board authorized the purchase of interactive playground software and equipment for the school system, which will cost $33,365 and will be paid from the district’s Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) fund. Board members also approved a memorandum of understanding between the school system and Vidalia Police Department, which outlined the expectations and responsibilities of school resource officers within the system.
