Briar Glen kindergartners get longer summer

Briar Glen Elementary kindergarteners are the only ones not to resume classes today are the fire-damaged school.

Although restoration work that started after the July 18 roof fire is done and passed all inspections, the destroyed learning materials that were re-ordered haven't arrived.

As a result, the school's 48 kindergartners will begin classes at the Wheaton school on Sept. 2.

"We've ordered thousands and thousands of items, and some of them aren't in yet," Superintendent John Perdue said.

Everything else, however, is good to go and the school's nearly 300 other students will begin classes as scheduled.

"The school is ready," Perdue said. "Every classroom is functional, set up and organized."

In the spring, voters approved spending $24.8 million to update the technology infrastructure, improve security, replace windows, add air-conditioning, repair roofs and upgrade mechanical, electrical and plumbing. The district also was replacing almost all school roofs and upgrading parking lots.

At Briar Glen asbestos also was removed and new lunch tables and sound panels were added in the gym.

No work was replicated as a result of the fire. If anything, the district got a head start on some future projects since renovation work was already in play and because of its insurance coverage.

For example, the district planned to replace the lighting and ceiling tiles in the library next year, but because they were damaged in the fire the insurance company covered the work.

"We were able to capitalize on an unfortunate event and improve the building at the same time," Perdue said.

An amount for how much the district saved on projects was unavailable Tuesday. The amount of damage the fire initially caused also was still unavailable.