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February 28, 2004School to be vacatedChurch to vote on allowing classes thereByRecord-Eagle staff writer KINGSLEY - Kingsley High School students will be back in school next week - but not their school. The school district shuttered the three-year-old high school indefinitely Tuesday after a maintenance worker discovered extensive damage to the roof above the cafeteria and kitchen. Another roof problem, which has been fixed temporarily, forced school to be canceled part of one day and all of another last week. School officials said students probably would be back in class by mid-week, but not before a wholesale shuffling of high schoolers to the middle school and some middle school students to a church and St. Mary's Hannah School. Sander Scott, Kingsley Middle School principal, said the 100 seventh-grade students will be moved to St. Mary's and eighth-graders will likely go to Kingsley Baptist Church. "What I told the kids is that they might forget a few of the details on a science lesson, but they will remember this for the rest of their lives," he said. School officials continue to meet with architects and engineers to determine who or what is to blame for broken and bent roof trusses. Superintendent Michael Jurgensen said the district is preparing to vacate the high school for the rest of the school year. High school students will relocate to the middle school and to several portable classrooms nearby. Fourth-, fifth- and sixth- grades will stay at the middle school. Jurgensen said the moves will cause parents and staff the least amount of trouble. The district is also tackling other details, such as connecting Internet access at the church and St. Mary's. Buses will pick up students at regular times and drop them off at the middle school. Shuttles will transport students to the other locations. Hot lunches will be prepared at the middle school and delivered. High school classes will remain closed Monday and Tuesday. Elementary and middle school students also will be off Tuesday to allow staff to make the move. Associate pastor Mike Brayton said the 150 members of the Kingsley Baptist Church will vote on the school's use of the church Sunday. He said having students occupy the sanctuary and fellowship hall could be inconvenient at times, especially when a funeral is planned. "We've been talking about being a community church and trying to help those who need it, and we finally have an opportunity," he said. "It is going to be a unique challenge, but if there is somebody hurting in our community I want to be the ones who are there first." Jurgensen said he doesn't know how much it will cost to make the move. He said the district plans to pay its portion of the utility bills and to provide custodial services at the other locations. - For school updates, go to www.kingsley.k-12.mi.us
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