SULPHUR, Okla. (KTEN) — Students were back in class Tuesday at Sulphur Public Schools after the district was closed all of last week, but some hallways and classrooms, like those at the high school, won't be filled with students for the rest of the year.

"All of our staff wanted to get back into school because of that very reason: We care about kids and we want to take care of them," Superintendent Matt Holder said.

Sulphur Public Schools was closed all of last week as staff evaluated damage to district buildings from the April 27 tornado.

It was determined that all grades would be able to safely return to in-person classes except for the high school.

"Last week, it was daily that we were finding new things that were impacted,” Holder explained. “Our transportation fleet is a high priority to try to get those back in either a running condition or get new buses. We've got some major flooring repairs that will have to be done."

Due to extensive water damage at the high school, ninth through twelfth graders will move to virtual learning.

For teachers and seniors, it's valuable life experience they've been prepared for.

"These seniors, when they were freshman went through COVID,” Emile Heitland said, an alternative education teacher at Sulphur High School. “We're dealing with a lot of the same issues on trying to finish stuff up. It's our responsibility to try to make it as normal as possible."

"They're going to know how to handle tough situations whenever it comes to things that happen that are like this like natural disasters or tragedies," senior Huston Holder said.

The district will stick to its normal scheduled last day of school on Thursday, May 16.