Friday, August 8, 2003
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Friday, August 8, 2003 |
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Down to the wire, volunteers rally to prepare schools When Fayette County schools are in need of a helping hand or two or three, there is seldom a shortage of volunteers to give assistance. As teachers and staff at Crabapple Lane Elementary worked feverishly to get the school ready for Monday, volunteers from local churches and businesses graciously offered up their services to make sure the school is in tip-top shape to greet its first students. Crabapple received its occupancy permits from the fire marshal Wednesday, and teachers and staff immediately began moving into the facility. Members of Grace Evangelical Church in Fayetteville volunteered their time at the school on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, stamping books and distributing them to classrooms, collecting and removing empty boxes and unloading supplies and equipment. Thanks to their efforts, 550 classroom desks were taken off a truck and placed in the school within hours. Although the church members do not have any direct ties to the new school, they said their work is a way to serve the community. "People ask us, 'Do you have a child here in this school?' and the answer is 'no'," said Senior Pastor Bruce Hebel. "None of us even know anyone working here in this school, we're just here to serve." Understanding the pressure to meet Monday's deadline, the Blackrock Foundation arranged to have the Peachtree City Chick-fil-A bring lunch to Crabapple free of charge. Michael Holmes, owner and operator of the restaurant, personally delivered and served the food to the hungry workers. On Saturday, the new Whitewater High School, operating this year out of the LaFayette Educational Center, will have a workday for final preparations for Monday's opening. Local businesses are donating materials and supplies to get the school off and running. Members from New Hope Baptist Church will be on hand to help organize the donations and place them in classrooms. Nearly 21,000 students are expected to enroll when Fayette schools open Monday. Commuters are reminded to keep an eye out for students waiting for buses in the early morning hours, and to be patient the first few days as traffic patterns around schools are likely to be congested until routines set in.
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