Missed The Fernway Elementary Community Meeting? Here's Video

SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH — More than 320 people gathered in the cafeteria of the Lomond School for the Shaker Heights School District's first public meeting discussing a devastating fire at Fernway Elementary School. Officials confirmed, again, that a temporary replacement building for Fernway students will be picked by August 1.

District leaders said they had about 30 days to select a stand-in school for Fernway. Interim Superintendent Stephen Wilkins assured the community that no matter where that building is, Fernway teachers will continue to teach Fernway students.

The three options for Fernway staff and students next year are: Empty buildings, modular classrooms, and temporary assignments of classrooms to other buildings in Shaker.

District officials are examining the options based on proximity to Fernway, availability and condition of replacement facilities, and cost. "My mind is not on cost, it's on finding the right place," Wilkins said. The goal is to announce a temporary location for the Fernway community by no later than August 1, Wilkins said. He would prefer to make an announcement sooner than the deadline day.

Fernway Principal Chris Hayward has been working closely with Wilkins on how to move forward. "He's in the office above me right now," Wilkins pointed out to a chuckle from the crowd. "He's my Fernway community expert."

One of the first questions asked of district leaders was about the possibility of breaking the lease at the former Ludlow School. Some residents were under the impression there was a clause in the lease with the tenant that allowed the school district to re-claim the building in the event of an emergency. No such clause exists, district leaders said. However, school officials are discussing possible uses of space at Ludlow with the tenant.

The Fire and Damage

Wilkins said that more than 20 departments responded to the fire and that the blaze tore across the roof of Ferneway, requiring a heroic response from firefighters. He described the fire as one of the worst in Shaker Heights history. Wilkins and other district leaders repeatedly referred to Sweeney and members of his department as heroes.

Damage below the roof at Fernway is actually mostly water damage. A concrete pad kept flames from breaking into the main building, However, firefighters had to use a lot of water to extinguish the flames, and that water is leaking into lower floor. The district needs to get a temporary roof structure in place at the elementary school, Wilkins said, and to clean-up debris and water damage.

"We cannot guess at the next step for the building," Wilkins said. Instead, district officials need to conduct a thorough assessment of the stability and integrity of Fernway post-fire. The interim superintendent said the process of assessment is complex and leaders learn new details each day.

A panel of district and city leaders were also on-hand to take questions from the public. Panelists included Wilkins, Mayor David Weiss, Fire Chief Patrick Sweeney, representatives from the Shaker Heights Teachers Association, and more.

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Photo from Google Earth