Many lend a hand to help Lake Zurich school
Andrea Natsis decided to roll up her sleeves when her twin boys stayed home from classes because flooding, mold and asbestos problems closed May Whitney School in Lake Zurich.
Everything in the parent-teacher organization's storage room in the basement of the school at 120 Church St., was ruined in 3 feet of water. That includes Christmas and Halloween decorations, extra Halloween costumes and winter clothes for students in need, games, art supplies, calculators, school supplies, and cash registers.
Natsis and other parents have stepped up to help the PTO reach out to area businesses for donations of money or replacement items.
"We don't have decorations for any school functions anymore," Natsis said. "I'm calling party stores, Costco, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, pulling out my Lake Zurich area business book and calling everybody on it."
Though supplies lost in the PTO storage room were not crucial to classroom education, they had been accumulated over the years. Some items, such as fun fair games, were made by parents.
"The sentiment behind it is not replaceable," said Lynda Howell, PTO vice president.
Howell said the loss of supplies is more significant for teachers who had classrooms set up and ready to go for the start of school Wednesday.
"When you're talking about teachers who have a limited budget to begin with, and then this happens, they don't get anything added to the budget," Howell said.
The PTO is sponsoring a fundraiser Tuesday at Yogi's Pizza, 830 S. Rand Road. The restaurant will donate 10 percent of purchases that day to the May Whitney PTO.
Natsis will stand in front of Yogi's that day from 5 to 10 p.m. to hit up customers for donations. Patrons can make out a check to the PTO or donate gift cards to Home Depot or Wal-Mart.
Parents say the response from the area business community, such as Yogi's Pizza giving a percentage of food sales and Wal-Mart offering a shopping cart full of supplies, has been overwhelming.
Meanwhile, PTO volunteers are helping transform May Whitney students' new home at the Annex building at 100 Church St. Classes are expected to start there shortly after Labor Day.
"The school we are going into is a junior high school," Natsis said. "We have to make it good for kindergarten through fifth-graders. Nobody's been in that building, so nobody knew how much work is needed."
The building needs painting, more cabinet space and chalk boards in some classrooms, doors for old shelving, and ceiling tile repairs.
District 95 spokesman Jim Jennings said officials are aware of the building's needs, but the first priority is doing the essentials to get students into classrooms and learning.
"Once we're able to successfully do that, we will continue doing the things that need to be done to that building, including working with many volunteers on landscaping and just brightening up the environment of the building," he said. "This is a last minute relocation so its going to take some time to get everything done."
PTO members encourage parents to tour the building before an information meeting at 7 p.m. Monday in the Annex library, 100 Church St.
"We just need people that have some kind of ability to do something," Natsis said.
The PTO is seeking donations of paint to brighten the Annex interior and exterior. Parents painted and planted flowers at the school's front entrance Thursday, and helped teachers pack up classrooms for the move.
"We have a lot of work to do," said Colleen Stevens, who has a second- and third-grader at May Whitney. "The administration and everyone is just overwhelmed right now with what lies ahead. It is a big undertaking. I'm just getting involved in this because they need help."
Donation checks may be made out to the May Whitney PTO and mailed to 37 Squire Road, Hawthorn Woods, IL 60047. For information or to drop off supplies, call (847) 719-1293.