By Rupert Howell
South Panola trustees Saturday afternoon declared a “State of Emergency,” authorizing superintendent Tim Wilder to immediately enter contracts to clean up and repair damage done to Batesville Elementary School and surrounding buildings during Friday night’s fire that destroyed the kindergarten building on College Street.

Wilder told his board of trustees, “I feel confident grades 1-12 will start on the first day scheduled (August 6). We intend to do everything we can do so that kindergartners are in school August 6.” (See related story)

Wilder asked his trustee board and a group of a dozen or so Elementary School teachers to get suggestions to administrators on how or where to house approximately 17 classrooms and auxiliary services.

The superintendent, beginning his third year at South Panola, said churches have reached out and others have suggested vacant businesses and Batesville Civic Center. He also mentioned commercial businesses who provide “modular units” for temporary use.

Trustee board member Lygunnah Bean presided at the special meeting in the absence of President Sandra Darby and reminded those attending that a temporary facility would have a lot of issues for consideration including, safety, transportation and food service.

Wilder promised teachers present, “We will get your building back better than it was.”
He said it was possible to be in a new building by August of 2016.

Also on hand during the special meeting was school maintenance director Keith Moore who had a representative from Serve-Pro, a restoration service, ready to move with a contract as soon as the meeting was completed.

Wilder reminded trustees that insurance not only covered replacement of the building, but transition also while assuring teachers they would have resources to get their classes up and running.

District financial director David Rubenstein estimated replacement cost of the building at $3.5 to $4 million.

Liberty Mutual Insurance is the district’s insurance company as of July 1 when trustees voted to change from an existing company.

Wilder informed board members that financial director Rubenstein was familiar with disaster claims as he had been involved with them during Hurricane Katrina and two additional fires in districts for whom he was employed.

Following adjournment teachers surrounded Wilder asking questions and looking for direction. Many had already been working on classrooms preparing for next month’s school opening.