Gasconade County R-2 Superintendent Dr. Jeri Kay Hardy told the Board of Education on Monday that she and Nutritional Services Director Lori Angel contacted Rolla Public Schools about sharing food after the neighboring district sustained extensive damages in a weekend tornado.

“We’ve had so many snow days, our coolers right now, they are stocked — almost to capacity,” Hardy said. “So what we could do, if Rolla, when they go back, needs to use food, Commodities would credit what Rolla needed to us and we would bring it to them. We could take our stuff to Rolla instead of them having to wait on an order. It would help them out if they are in need in those areas.”

Rolla Public Schools is currently down two cafeterias and freezers after a Friday storm system damaged facilities. The National Weather Service warned that the March 14 evening storm system could come with damaging strong winds, hail and tornadoes. An EF-2 tornado hit Rolla businesses and the Rolla Public Schools system during the evening hours.

Rolla Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Kyle Dare announced on Sunday that the district would be closed March 17-21 and the following week is Spring Break.

The district isn’t expected to be back in session until March 31.

Hardy said Dare appreciated the offer, but the district seems to be doing ok right now, though they are still taking stock of the situation.

“Walmart in Rolla had provided them with a refrigerator truck for their food,” Hardy said. “So they’re not sure if they need anything. I don’t think they lost food, just the structure. They had two cafeterias that were hit.”

Commodities is a USDA service that provides school districts with food. Gasconade R-2 arranges for shipments to occur automatically. Hardy said right now, every cooler in the district is full. Another shipment is expected in a few weeks.

“We have a place to put it, but right now we have extra in our hands,” said Hardy, who reached out to Dare via email on Monday morning.

Exchanging services with a neighboring school when they are in need is something Hardy believes the district should do.

“I think that’s a thing that public schools do,” she said. “When there is a need in one district, as a group of superintendents and schools, we try to help one another. Whether that’s a tragic event such as losing a student, or a natural disaster, or snow routes. We work together to do what’s best for kids. That’s the true heart of all administrators. We want to do what’s best for kids. When one community has a burden, school districts want to do what they can to help each other. That’s what being a school family is about.”

Hardy shared the Rolla superintendent said they started assessing more of the damage on Monday and would be in touch if they needed anything.

“You don’t have to feel like you’re on an island by yourself,” she said about offering help to the neighboring district. “We’re all here to support each other.”

Rolla Public Schools is 46 miles from the Gasconade County R-2 School District.