Hayes Cooper will hold classes there for remainder of year
By Kristy Kitchings, The Bolivar Bullet
As parents and students of the Hayes Cooper school in Merigold began arriving to a new location on the campus of Delta State University where the students will finish the school year, the public turned out to welcome them along with Hayes Cooper teachers, Delta State University President Dan Ennis and his wife Jennifer, Head DSU football Coach Todd Cooley and his football team and Gerald Wesley, security for the Cleveland School District. Cheers and applause erupted as the students got off the bus.
While an investigation is still ongoing, a small explosion took place at Hayes Cooper on the morning of April 11, at approximately 7:24 a.m. The incident resulted in school faculty and staff moving to emergency response protocol. Principal Renee Lamastus and superintendent Dr. Lisa Bramuchi took immediate action to find a home for the displaced students. Communication between Dr. Ennis and Dr. Bramuchi concluded that DSU would open their doors to the Hayes Cooper family beginning Tuesday, April 16th.
Days after the incident businesses in Cleveland entertained the students, faculty, and families of the Patriots that started Friday with a snow cone day at the Martin and Sue King Railroad museum and then continued on Monday at Harmony Bowling Alley for two days of fun and distractions.
Bramuchi updated the community in a press release on Friday, April 12 that stated the Cleveland Volunteer Fire Department, Atmos Energy, and related agencies were had begun an inspection of the incident. While the campus was cleared after a first and second sweep, the safety of the students and teachers was the main concern.
Two Hayes Cooper teachers, Jasmine Beamon and Judy Raines were injured in the incident and are in Jackson recovering according to Facebook updates from their family.
“The Cleveland community and the Hayes Cooper parents are truly amazing in a time of crisis and since April 11th, we know just how truly special our community is,” said Bramuchi.