Burned Classrooms Will Miss School Opening Lidgerwood Repair Work Will Extend Into Fall

Thu., Aug. 18, 1994

Carla K. Johnson Staff writer

Two of four classrooms damaged by a fire last month at Lidgerwood Elementary will not be repaired in time for the start of school in two weeks.

A second-grade class will meet in a mobile unit on the school grounds until the work is finished. Two thirdgrade classes will share a room.

Lidgerwood Elementary was already crowded. Spokane School District 81 had planned to install a two-classroom portable unit to ease the crowding problem. That portable building will be ready in mid-October.

The July 24 fire was started by two 9-year-old boys playing with a cigarette lighter. The boys, both Lidgerwood students, have been referred to the juvenile prosecutor, but charges have not been filed.

The fire caused about $200,000 of damage to the roof, floors and ceilings of three classrooms. A fourth room had smoke damage.

The school district is insured but must pay a $100,000 deductible.

Principal Cris Welch said she is grateful to the teachers who came in to help assess the damage to classroom materials.

Welch also asked parents of Lidgerwood students to remind their children to stay away from the repair area when school starts. Work will be completed by winter, Welch said.

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