There are cascading consequences to last week’s fire on Sawmill Road — and they’re reaching as far as Klukwan school.
A fire in Haines last Friday morning did more than destroy a home–it also put the Klukwan school bus out of commission. The school bus that takes students from Haines to the Klukwan school was sufficiently damaged in a recent fire as to be unusable. Principal Brad King says at least half of the student body relies on the bus.
“I know that the number of students that are in klukwan proper is in single digits so the remainder is bused from anywhere along the highway,” said King.
According to the school’s office, four of the school’s 17 students are absent because they don’t have transportation. King says they have not had an in-depth discussion, but the district is working on a solution: “We’re looking into the insurance on the bus what can be done to rapidly repair or replace.”
He says that there should be a plan after the school board meeting this Wednesday in Juneau. The district insures all its vehicles.
The bus driver is not out of a job after losing his home and the bus. King says,”Our current driver is also a paraprofessional at the school, so he’s still working as an instructional aide. He will continue to work and we’ll keep him busy until we’ve got things going.”
King says the school will have a solution for the community as soon as possible.
