RICHWOOD, W.Va. — The class of 2025 will be the last in Richwood forced to spend their entire secondary school experience in a temporary, portable classroom.
It’s been nine years since the flood of 2016 devastated the Nicholas County community and wiped out the local schools. Since that time, Richwood students have been attending class in the portables and waiting anxiously for the day when they could finally walk into an actual school building again.
For this year’s seniors, that day never came, but hopefully their plight will be remembered well.
“It’s a culmination of all their time for middle school and high school. They’ve been in modular classrooms for their entire middle school and high school careers. I guess one of the key themes here is perseverance,” said Principal Scott Williams.
As those students walk across the stage at the Red Gym in Richwood they’ll receive diplomas which Williams said will mean a lot more than meets the eye.
“Sometimes opportunities don’t knock loudly, they whisper. Hopefully this is something they can look at and say, ‘Even if it’s not a perfect situation we can still overcome and be successful.’ I hope that is something they take with them going forward in life.” Williams said.
Williams has been adamant toward the 74 seniors during their entire time in school, along with all of his other students, the loss of their school and the slow process to rebuild cannot be used as an excuse. If anything those obstacles were viewed as an opportunity to overcome despair and rise above circumstances they cannot control. He said he feels confident that’s what his students have done.
He added the end of the school year brings an air of great excitement and anticipation for the rest of the Richwood student body who will leave the portables for their permanent homes when school starts in the fall.
“It’s the end of a long road and I think everybody is excited for the opportunity that will bring,” he said.