GREASY, Okla.—
Though some students in Greasy, Oklahoma were able to see their teachers again Monday after a fire destroyed their classrooms the week before, Superintendent David Eads says classes will fully resume for all students Tuesday."We'll have buses running on time, classes will start on time, we'll serve breakfasts and lunches," said Eads after meeting with insurance agents at the school grounds Tuesday. "We want to give these kids as much of a sense of normalcy as possible."
Early Friday morning, emergency crews were called to a fire at the Greasy Elementary and Middle Schools just north of the Adair County line. The fire gutted both buildings, leaving hundreds of students with nowhere to go.
Almost immediately, volunteers and schools across the state began gathering and sending supplies to Greasy so that their students could continue learning. Eads said he was amazed by the outpouring of generosity.
"There were two ladies I don't even know, have never met, sitting at Wal-Mart parking lot taking up donations and items for our teachers," he said. "They just knew there was a need and took up a donation. Whoever those ladies are, I'd like to meet you and thank you very much." Though some students were kept at home Monday, others were playing on the playground or inside the Greasy Community Center, where temporary classes were set up.
Caleen Riddle, a middle school teacher, said the kids were just as amazed as the teachers by the sheer amount of donated books, crayons or other supplies they had to pass out.
"Some were really down, they'd say 'Oh, we don't have this, it burned up,' and then they'd open a box and say 'Here it is!' It'd kind of an exciting time in that respect," Riddle said.
Besides the Community Center, classes will be held at two local churches until modular buildings arrive around Labor Day. According to Eads, the buildings will be set up on the school grounds so that all the students will be back in one place again.
Investigators have still not released what they believe caused the fire, but say they may have a determination in the coming days.
