Ruby is going on a field trip today. Normally this would be very exciting (and in fact, it is very exciting to her), but the field trip is to the sister school a few towns over, and the reason for the field trip is that the roof collapsed.
Tuesday morning we drove up to the school parking lot to find several large trucks taking up most of the spots. As we walked through the front doors of the building, we were ushered/herded in the opposite direction of Ruby’s classroom, to what is known as “the big room,” because, well, it is big.
Upon arrival, we learned that a water pipe had burst directly over Ruby’s classroom and flooded it, leaking into the hallway and some other classrooms, so now three to four classes would be camping out, refugee-style, in the big room, until further notice. I don’t know how long “further notice” is, but it seems like a couple of weeks at least.
This is, of course, terrible news. Anything on a bottom shelf is now ruined. Books, puzzles, games, and other non-waterproof toys are all gone. This is upsetting indeed, but far more heartbreaking is the realization that all of the kids’ artwork on the walls is probably destroyed. Possibly their books where they write their names every month and you can see the amazing progress. Maybe their craft projects and special creations. Things that can never be replaced.
Now, quite honestly, we are not hurting for artwork in the line-style crayon medium. We most likely would have eventually tossed most of it anyway. But to have it taken from us like this, so suddenly, so cruelly, is hard for us to take, and even harder to explain to our four and five year old’s who want to know if the elephant they painted last week and left lying on the floor to dry will be okay.
The fact that it comes at a time when many schools and libraries in the state are still struggling to rebuild and restock after the terrible flooding of Hurricane Irene makes it even…weirder? On the one hand, it makes me grateful that we didn’t sustain any real damage in the floods, but on the other it seems bitingly ironic that we now know, in a very small way indeed, exactly how they felt and still feel.
As we’ve dropped Ruby off at school this week, we’ve seen them vacuuming up water, tearing out drywall and carpeting, and generally making a huge mess of things in an effort to remove the damage and get to the point where they can start rebuilding. They’re doing a good job and if we’re lucky we might be back in business by the end of next week. Everyone will be fine, and things will be back to normal soon I’m sure. But for now, we’ll be in the big room.
Whew! You should be grateful that the collapse didn’t happen while the kids were in school! You know, one reason why a water pipe bursts is when it freezes and causes water blockage, then comes leakage. Regarding the roof, there must have been poor support underneath it.
Elizabeth Hoffnung
The water blockage may be due to a poor maintenance system. The school administration should have known better than to let things slide when it’s the children’s safety that’s at stake. I hope this coming year, the school will have a better pipe system to avoid any more pipe bursts, especially now that it’s winter season.
Missie Rice
I know we are all grateful the kids weren’t there when the roof collapsed. It’s such a relief to know that. :] I hope the problem was fixed and with sturdy materials and careful installation this time. These are lives we are talking about here, children’s lives. Schools should always do their best to ensure the children’s safety while they are in school premises.