87 days after tornado, Joplin (Mo.) district begins classes on time

Aug. 18, 2011

From The Joplin Globe: Students resumed classes Wednesday in the Joplin (Mo.) School District, 87 days after being the city was devastated by an EF-5 tornado. Some principals declared this year's first day of school, even in an array of temporary locations, one of the smoothest ever. At the 11th- and 12th-grade center at Northpark Mall, about 1,000 juniors and seniors received laptop computers courtesy of the district.

Video from The Joplin Globe: Interview with Joplin High School Principal Kerry Sachetta:

More video...from ABC-TV's Good Morning America:

Also...from The New York Times: A slide slow of the first day of classes for students in the Joplin district.