Blanchard prepares to start in new location

Staff of Blanchard Elementary were readying classrooms at Lynwood Baptist Church on Thursday so students can return to classes today.

Superintendent Dr. Jim Welker said teachers prepared lists of items they need from their classrooms and the items were then being cleaned as needed by ServiceMaster, the company hired to clean the Blanchard Elementary School building after Tuesday night's fire. The items were moved by another company over to the church.

Welker met with staff to go over a plan for the school day. Students and staff will meet in the church's cafeteria first thing in the morning to talk about the plan and to talk to students about the change in buildings due to the fire, Welker said.

The school has made new arrangements for bus routes, and Welker said parents may also drive their children to and from the church. Buses will drop off students at the front of the building, but parents are encouraged to let students out at the back entrance of the church.

Staff will be on hand to help direct traffic, as well, Welker said.

After looking at the possibility of holding classes at several locations Wednesday, Welker said it was determined that the church would be the best place because the building has enough space and a kitchen approved by the health department. Blanchard has between 350 and 400 students.

As of now the church is not charging the district money to hold classes there. If that changes, the cost would be covered by the district's insurance, Welker said.

Bekki Cook, the school's Read to Succeed tutoring program coordinator, said volunteers from the program will greet students in the morning as they arrive at the school and be on hand to help teachers throughout the day.

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