Mayor Freddie O’Connell Joins Teachers and Staff to Welcome Students Back to Campus

Mayor Freddie O'Connell was excited today to join teachers and staff at John F. Kennedy Middle School in Antioch, welcoming students back to campus for the first time since Winter Storm Fern hit Nashville. And students could soon benefit from improved school start times, depending on a decision at the school board, which meets this evening.

The return to class at all Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) is the latest in the city's sweeping response to the unprecedented weather event, as hundreds of Nashvillians began receiving financial assistance and city agencies continue key recovery services across the County.

Photos from Mayor O'Connell's visit to JFK Middle School

"Today was an important day for Nashville-for students and their families and for the hundreds of Nashvillians who began receiving financial help through the Winter Storm Recovery Fund, which reached more than $1 million in just five days since its launch," Mayor O'Connell said.

"But we know the work is far from over. While our first priority is restoring power to all Nashvillians, our other top priority is life safety. That requires understanding the needs of every Nashvillian and getting immediate resources to those individuals and families."

Mayor O'Connell urged everyone in Nashville to report assistance needs by calling the United Way's free and confidential hotline at 2-1-1 or submitting them into the city's Needs Tracker at nashvilleresponds.org.

"I want to thank Dr. Adrienne Battle and the entire Metro Schools team, our partners at United Way Greater Nashville, the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, and all the nonprofit partners who are leaning in with us to get Nashvillians help quickly," Mayor O'Connell said. "And I want everyone in Davidson County to know: Metro Government will work until relief turns into recovery and until Nashville is restored."

More on Metro's Response - the latest:

For the latest on Nashville's around-the-clock response to Winter Storm Fern-including shelters, warming locations, transportation assistance, important safety information and more, go to Nashville.gov.

More About Nashville's Winter Storm Recovery Fund

Five days after Mayor O'Connell joined United Way Greater Nashville to launch the Winter Storm Recovery Fund, donors have given more than $1 million to help Nashvillians with everything from rental assistance to purchasing groceries.

"A million dollars in five days is an amazing response, but it's only the beginning of the response," Mayor O'Connell said. "Next is connecting resources to the need. We will accept any aid and run it through the city's needs tracker to get help to those who need it most-and help them as quickly as possible."