On September 25, Berkeley Preparatory School buzzed with excitement, annoyance and trepidation. Hillsborough County had declared school canceled, yet this only applied to public schools. School continued normally at Berkeley. Little did anyone know it was the last regular school day of September 2024. Hurricane Helene was on its way.
Upon returning, students found a wire fence surrounding much of the Middle Division. A huge tube slithered out of the library and the Dimmitt. At Gills Hall, a truck labeled “BELFOR” parked at the end of the drop-off zone. Welcome to the beginning of a crazy three months, Berkeley.When asked about his first reaction to Helene’s damage, Upper Division Director Ryan Jordan said he felt surprised and sad. “[I was] hoping that the flood damage to school buildings and property wasn’t so significant that we wouldn’t be able to run school.” Middle Division Director Cindy Boss said she was “So sad […] I wanted to do whatever I could to help get us back on track.” In contrast, Director of Facilities Management Mike Steger said, “I’d like to say I was surprised, but it was not a shocker.” Steger had already contacted Belfor, a global restoration company, at 2:00 AM on Friday as Helene was battering Tampa. Since Berkeley had signed a red-alert agreement with Belfor a few years ago, Berkeley was a first priority. Thanks to Steger’s proactive thinking and Belfor’s swift response, school resumed on Monday, September 30.
Flooding from Helene affected 27 learning spaces across the divisions, the administration building, Dimmitt Gymnasium, sixth and seventh grade locker rooms, first floor of the Jean Ann Cone Library, Ceres House on Bray Road and three Berkeley-owned houses on Carlyle Road. Prior to Helene, Berkeley had undergone heavy-rain events, yet the school had never flooded on a large scale.
Student spaces became a top priority to be restored, followed by administration offices. The library is likely to be available last, as it is being used as a storage space.
Upper and Middle Division directors and faculty did an amazing job of relocating 22 classrooms, utilizing many nontraditional spaces: Divers Alumni Room in the Straz, which served as Mr. Daniel Fisher’s classroom (Math); Straz Boardroom; Gabos, where Mr. Joshua Beckwith and Mrs. Antonia Palmeri co-taught classes (Global Studies), conference rooms in the Chapel and MD office; Gries music and arts rooms; Science Department Chair Dr. Nicole Ackerson’s science room, M101; and the Dryland Training Room/Aerobics room.
Boss said, “It was a puzzle to put together, but we were able to do it […] mostly because Mr. Seivold and […] our faculty were so excited to get back to see their students and to get back to some sense of normalcy. Everyone was so positive.” Both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton caused not only physical damage but also emotional impacts. Jordan said, “It’s really trying to make sure we’re not only back at school, but helping people feel positive and supported. […] I feel our school community has responded not just in people’s individual strength and resilience, but how much people have done for other people in our community.”
Berkeley has shown its compassionate spirit throughout the aftermath of Helene and Milton, whether it is being empathetic towards one another, offering places to live, adding to the food pantry or helping to clean up houses, Dickinson Elementary and Sweetwater Park. “The school’s response to our neighbors has been just one of the nicest things I’ve seen,” said Boss. The first major flooding at Berkeley Preparatory School was exceptionally managed, thanks to Belfor’s efforts and the spirit of the Berkeley community. In the best-case scenario, school life should return to normal by mid-second semester.
