Nearly 5,000 displaced students went to a class in other buildings because their schools were damaged, destroyed or inaccessible
PARADISE, Calif. — With tears, hugs, teachers and a touch of anxiety, thousands of children returned to school and some semblance of routine Monday, three weeks after Northern California’s deadly wildfire destroyed their homes and classrooms.
Schools in Butte County have been closed since Nov. 8, when the blaze swept through the towns of Paradise, Concow and Magalia in the nation’s deadliest wildfire in a century. At least 88 people were killed and 25 remain unaccounted for.
About 31,000 students in all went back to school. Nearly 5,000 of them are going to class in make-shift classrooms at different schools, churches and even a Boys and Girls Club because their schools were damaged or destroyed, or are inaccessible inside evacuation zones.
Most of Paradise High School survived but is inaccessible.
The district doesn’t have space yet for intermediate and high school classrooms, so for the 13 days before the holiday break begins, those students will learn through independent study. They will have access to online assignments and a drop-in center at the Chico mall where they can get help from teachers or see classmates.
But schoolwork will probably be secondary to dealing with trauma and reconnecting with friends, said Paradise High Principal Loren Lighthall.
