For the week of  September 12 - 18, 2001

Schools are trying to maintain routine schedules

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By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

As the tragedies in New York City and Washington, D.C., unfolded Tuesday morning, social workers and counselors were available at all Blaine County schools.

"We addressed the issue in first period," said Wood River Middle School Vice Principal Tom Bailey. "Some parents have chosen to take their students home. But the setting at school was very good, no trouble."

At the high school the principal addressed the student body on the intercom. TVs were being monitored in classrooms, and very few students went home.

At the School District office, Public Relations Information Director, Lauri Frost said that the Crisis Management Team "got together first thing this morning and discussed it. There haven’t been many calls from parents. They probably feel it’s safer to stay in schools—better than the panic." She said the schools are trying to maintain the same daily routine.

"We are encouraging the parents to let them stay. The younger children are who we worry about."

Kevin Boonder, of Hailey, offered his counseling services free of charge to any student, Frost said.

Superintendent Jim Lewis was being updated regularly while in a meeting later in the morning.

The school board meeting scheduled for Tuesday afternoon was postponed until further notice.

At The Community School in Sun Valley an assembly was held early in the morning, but staying in session and in class was the order of the day.

Other than Wood River Optimist Football at the middle school, and a girl’s soccer game between The Community School and Wood River, no activities were canceled. Decisions about events later this week will be made on a daily basis, though Homecoming will continue as planned.

Some students who needed to go home were picked up by their parents so their families could be together at this time.

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