School start date still unknown after Briar Glen fire
Even though a look inside Briar Glen Elementary School in Wheaton shows workers hustling to quickly repair damage from a fire last week, school officials remain unsure if classes will start on schedule Aug. 27.
"It's still too soon to say," said Cheryl Meyer, communications assistant for Glen Ellyn Elementary District 89. The school board will meet next week to discuss restoration efforts and make a decision for the start of the school year.
"As soon as we know, the parents will know," Meyer said.
On Thursday, approximately 30 workers from Belfor USA continued inspecting and replacing duct work and repairing dry wall. Meanwhile, restoration experts from NBD International Inc. evaluated books and supplies damaged by the fire or water.
Briar Glen teachers already have salvaged what supplies they could from the damaged areas, which include about eight classrooms in one wing and the school's media learning center. The classrooms housed kindergarten and first-grade classes, art rooms and reading centers.
The fire started around noon on July 18 when a crew from Olsson Roofing Co. in Aurora was working on a complete roof restoration on the building at 1800 Briarcliffe Blvd. Wheaton fire officials say a worker was refilling a hand tool with gasoline and accidentally spilled some gas, igniting flames that spread across the roof and into new materials being stored there, and then to a garbage truck beside the building.
On Thursday, Wheaton Fire Department Capt. Jeff Benda said the fire is still ruled as an accident. Meyer said the cost of the damage remains unknown and District 89's insurance company is collaborating with Olsson's insurance company hash out repair costs.
As classrooms now stand gutted with tiles and carpeting removed, furniture gone and only random pencil sharpeners or some chalkboards surviving the blaze, school officials are planning their next steps. Workers are expected to begin asbestos removal in the damaged areas of the school, which was build in 1971. Then they will continue the duct work and rebuilding started earlier this week.
Meyer said parents, students, teachers, community members are eager to help, and even local businesses are chipping by providing supplies like lunch for the workers.
"While what's happened here is regretful and sad, I've been touched by how supportive everyone has been," she said. "It's really been a communitywide effort."
Right now, the school is not safe for anyone but professional workers. So officials are asking everyone to steer clear of the building, but hang on to their goodwill.
Once they have a better idea of what's needed to get Briar Glen running again, officials will send out the call for help with cleanup tasks, or for donations such as gift certificates for teachers to book or supply stores.
And once the school reopens, students should prepare to see some work continuing during the day, such as restocking book shelves.
"There will be some things that need to be finished," Meyer said. "But if we don't have shelves yet and books need to be temporarily organized on a table, learning can still happen."