Spanish Fort Elementary School Partially Re-Opened

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By Chad Petri Reporter

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Published: Mon, February 18, 2008 - 2:06 pm

Chad Petri

Weighed down by book bags nearly half their size, eager young students scamper back to their regular classrooms for the first time in 2008. Many are anxious to return to a familiar setting.

“It's just that I have a nice room, and teachers and friends,” says kindergartner Christian Wachter. Amid the hustle and bustle outside--it's a little bit quieter inside. Kindergarten teacher Carol Nabors unpacks her things as she gets ready for class.

“We are thrilled!” says Nabors. “My kids were so excited when we were talking about coming back home,” she says. Instead of making her normal appearance on closed circuit TV this morning, principal Becky Comer is personally delivering her morning announcements door-to-door.

“I want to put my eyes on all my children this morning who are here,” says Comer. “I want to give them a feeling of normalcy.” Outside, a third of the campus is still barren and marked off with tape and temporary signs. Discovery of lead paint shut down the school in early January. While clean-up continues, school officials say the state health department has given them the all clear.

“They watched closely what we had done,” says Comer. “They are confident that what we're doing is absolutely safe and the right thing to do.” The school is still in sort of a transitional period, in fact there are a few boxes around that need to be unpacked. Still everyone's just happy to be home.

“In the other church we didn't have our own classroom,” says first grade teacher Amanda Ingram. “Just a room, shared by five teachers, plus it's good to be near the bathrooms too.” Teachers say they have more room for their kids and their class work.

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