After discussion, the board decided it is best not to change the students’ routine, considering they have been through enough after a fire at Stony Creek. On March 24, the building that houses the second- and third-grade classrooms caught fire, with damage mainly restricted to underneath the building.
Principal Chad Abel said churches have offered to provide space for the 35 students, but that would mean changing their routines again. Even though Round Prairie is about 17 miles from Williston, farther than Stony Creek, they’re now used to attending Round Prairie and have lunch and playground facilities there, the board agreed.
“The safety and routine of our kids is the most important thing,” Abel said.
An insurance adjuster inspected the Stony Creek facility Monday after being stuck in Minot due to recent severe weather. He has yet to give an estimate for the damage and hasn‘t determined if it’s a total loss, superintendent Greg McNary said. Business manager Lisa Heinrich plans to call the insurance adjuster today, as well as send him photos Abel took of the damage. Abel informed the board some floor joists are burned, a sewer pipe is melted, electrical wires are burned, the flooring is charred and can be seen on the carpet in a few places. The heating ducts also are filled with smoke damage and the interior of the building smells of smoke.
Steam Brothers of Williston is to do some work on the interior and the teachers have taken materials off the walls, Abel said. When school board member David Rockstad asked about the strength of the floor, Abel answered he’s jumped up and down on the floor throughout the building and it’s “pretty strong.”
In his capacity as a contractor, Rockstad said he’s dealt with several buildings that have had fire damage. After looking at the photos Abel had taken, he said the Stony Creek building may be salvageable, but it’d cost about $30,000 to do so.
It would cost about $80,000 to replace the 24-by-64 structure, McNary said. The board discussed looking at a used modular building in Minot sometime this month. Another option is a FEMA trailer, but those trailers may have to be used in Fargo due to the recent flooding, McNary said.
The board hopes to have a better idea of what to do about the situation once the insurance adjuster makes a determination. The board is to discuss options at its Budget Committee meeting on Monday. At that meeting, it is to also discuss what is to happen regarding the building for the 2009-2010 school year.
Meanwhile, as the students continue to attend Round Prairie, McNary said he and Abel are making certain they’re getting their recommended Department of Public Instruction minutes that are required for each student to be in class.
Heinrich said she’s putting together a list of materials the teachers may need because the items are smoke damaged. Scissors, glue, tissues and crayons were damaged, she said. Places have offered to donate items and Round Prairie staff have shared their materials, Heinrich said.
Abel cautioned such a list is almost premature because it’s near the end of the school year.
“The list is going to change continuously,” he said.
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