TROTWOOD, Ohio – The Memorial Day tornado outbreak across Ohio impacted tens-of-thousands of people.

• 10,000+ students impacted by tornado damage
• Dayton-area school districts are working together to contact and inform displaced families
• School supplies and clothes are available for students who may live in temporary housing

And as August approaches so does the beginning of a new school year.

At Trotwood Madison City Schools in Trotwood, efforts have been ongoing all summer to find students displaced by tornadoes.

“Our efforts since the tornadoes back on Memorial Day has been to ensure that our families still know they are connected to Trotwood Madison City School District,” said Ella Jordan-Isaac, Family and Community Engagement Coordinator for the district.

Jordan-Isaac said the district has connected with 226 schoolchildren either affected or displaced by the tornadoes. She estimated the number could be as high as 330.

Trotwood Madison schools has about 2,500 students in the district.

“We have worked very diligently with our parent engagement team to locate those families to have them to contact us with updated information as well as to tell us what their needs are for the upcoming school year that actually begins on August 12^th.”

Jordan-Isaac said a lot of students are living with family or friends outside the district, or they're in temporary housing.

The Dayton-area non-profit Crayons to Classrooms said more than 10,000 students were impacted by the tornadoes.

Jordan-Isaac said districts in the Miami Valley who were hit by the tornadoes have been working together to make sure students and families know they have a place to go to school.

“We're still working out the transportation piece because we know families are located in other communities. And so that is a conversation that is taking place with all of the affected districts.”

Jordan-Isaac said district officials will meet next week to again talk about transportation options.

There has also been overwhelming support from the communities impacted to make sure children have what they need for school. Trotwood Madison schools have a uniform policy for students in preschool up to 8^th grade and are working to make sure students who may have lost clothes in the storms have what they need for school.

Districts are also sensitive to the fact some parents are in need of assistance who may never have needed it before.

“We want to be, again, be respectful of their privacy and to know that the circumstances, of course, are not of their making, but there is support.”

There hasn't been much summer break for staff at Trotwood Madison schools. The tornadoes that created havoc in Trotwood hit a week after the district graduated its 2019 senior class.

“We absolutely have not had an opportunity to recharge but I can tell you it's been all hands on deck. Everyone has rolled up their sleeves. Individuals who are staff members, certified staff, their last day was the Friday the 24^th of May and they were not even able to come back and clear their classrooms but yet they were here on our high school site volunteering, going into communities, clearing away debris. That's what we do, that's just the Ram Nation. That's what we do.”

Jordan-Isaac said families with children who were displaced because of the tornadoes should contact their school immediately. The district will work with parents to make sure children are ready for the first day of school.

If you're interested in donating supplies and clothes for schoolchildren, you can donate by clicking here.