Last week our school district suffered a big loss. It was a loss to our whole community.
The loss was felt by teachers from whom the flames took the results of many years of work, bulletin boards and materials of all sorts–much of which they themselves paid for and freely gave for the benefit of their students.

Existing now only in our memories are the cafeteria which fed so many children, and the office where secretaries and principals worked so hard.

I went to that school 60 years ago. It’s been there a long time.

But memories we can keep.

No child or teacher was hurt. No fireman was injured. We are thankful for their efforts and for the presence of other emergency response personnel.

Now it is time for us to pray for our Superintendent Tim Wilder and the board members. They have a daunting task ahead of them. We need to stand behind them and pray and encourage them in the work they have to do. They have already done a wonderful job. I know they will continue to do so.

It is also important for us to continue to pray for and support our teachers and support staff who have been affected. And let us not forget our children who go there to learn. We must pray for them also.

Catherine Cole