DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — On Saturday, January 17, around 5:00 p.m. a suspicious fire engulfed a kindergarten classroom at Fairington Elementary School. Although the fire was contained to one classroom, the main school building experienced extensive water, smoke and soot damage. The multipurpose building (gym) was not damaged.
A team of nearly 150 workers are working around the clock to mitigate the damages; however, the school will not be ready for students and staff on Tuesday, January 20, 2015.
Therefore, the following Safe Schools Plan and Protocol will be followed for all students. No one will be allowed in the main school building. Fairington ES students will be housed at Miller Grove High School. School times will remain the same for convening and dismissal. Breakfast and lunch will be served.
The following transportation protocol will be implemented for the following groups of students:
- Bus Riders: Students should go to their regular bus stops and they will be picked up at their normal time and locations. The bus drivers will deliver the students directly to Miller Grove HS. After the conclusion of the school day, the students will follow their normal bus schedule and will be delivered to their regular scheduled bus stop.
- Walkers: Students should follow their normal walk schedule TO Fairington ES and report to the multipurpose gym at Fairington ES. They will then be transported by the District to Miller Grove HS. After the conclusion of the school day, the District will return the students to Fairington ES multipurpose gym for normal dismissal.
- Car Riders: Parents/guardians should transport car rider students to Fairington ES to the multipurpose gym at Fairington ES. They will then be transported by the District to Miller Grove HS. After the conclusion of the school day, the District will return the students to Fairington ES multipurpose gym for parent pickup at the regularly scheduled time.
- Nursery Van Riders: Nursery van providers should transport nursery van riders to Fairington ES to the multipurpose gym at Fairington ES. They will then be transported by the District to Miller Grove HS. After the conclusion of the school day, the District will return the students to Fairington ES multipurpose gym for nursery van pickup at the regularly scheduled time.
- After School Program: After school program students will be transported from Miller Grove HS by the District to Fairington ES to the multipurpose building for pick up by parents between 2:00-6:00 pm.
School counselors will be available to students and staff during the week.
The District will follow this protocol until further notice.
“This is a challenging time for the Fairington Family but we will prevail,” said Superintendent Michael Thurmond. “The safety of our children will always be our top priority.”
WSBTV
