Aiken Elementary School - Moldy Again

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http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/sections/archive/topstoryjmp/1-17-02/News1.

htm

Aiken students, staff adjusting to change of scenery

BY CRISELDA VALDEZ

THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD

Housed in colorfully decorated portable classrooms installed at Morningside

Elementary, Aiken Elementary students and faculty filed in and got back to

the business of learning on Wednesday.

The displaced students and teachers returned to classes this week after

school district officials announced they would have an extended vacation

when mold was discovered at their school, again.

Aiken's 780-plus students and 100 staff members reported to 42 portable

classrooms at Morningside one week after the district began its spring

semester Jan. 9.

Parents picking up Aiken students from their new campus had mixed reactions

over the move and worried most about transportation issues.

The district has devised a modified bus route and schedule to transport all

eligible bus students based on their current addresses. But not all are

eligible, including Moreno, a fifth-grade Aiken student.

's mother, Efigenia ez, waited Wednesday for classes to be

dismissed. Parked outside Morningside, ez said used to ride the

bus but now he needs to be dropped off and picked up.

" We live on Ricky Street and the bus won't come by to pick him up, " she

said. " We live closer to Aiken than Morningside. "

ez said has to wake up at 6 instead of 7:15 a.m. - the usual

wake-up call. " He woke up kind of scared, " she said, adding her young son is

not used to getting up that early.

An added inconvenience for ez is the traffic around the Morningside

campus that is now accommodating two student bodies.

" Usually we get to school at 8 (a.m.). Today we got here at 8:10 (a.m.), "

she said, faulting excessive traffic for the delay.

Brownsville Independent School District officials have said the move is

temporary but can not say for sure when the Aiken campus will be reopened.

Aiken, and adjacent Besteiro Middle School, are closed while BISD tests for

hazardous mold growth in the buildings. Besteiro will start classes Jan. 22

at different campuses.

BISD Superintendent Noe Sauceda and top administrators were at Morningside

early Wednesday to greet students and staff and aid in the transition, a

press release issued by the district indicated.

The transition will be more difficult for some than others, gauging from the

mixed reaction parents had Wednesday. While some predicted major hassles,

others seemed to be rolling with the punches.

Alejandra Davila said she didn't have to change too much of her children's

schedules to accommodate the changes, though they may have to get used to

riding the bus to Morningside.

Davila said she usually drives her son, Ramos, a kindergarten student,

and daughter, Ramos, a fourth grade student, to and from Aiken, though

they are eligible for bus service now.

Davila said she had trouble finding a parking spot. Some vehicles double and

triple parked in the crowded lot. After surveying the bustling scene, she

indicated she may reconsider her children's transportation routine.

" Maybe they'll have to go in the bus, " she said. " Imaginate vatallando con

el tráfico (imagine struggling with the traffic). "

And though the crowded parking lot and heavy traffic may be a burden, Davila

said she still preferred to have her children out of the Aiken building.

" They haven't exactly told us (how long students will stay at Morningside), "

she said. " But I prefer for them to be here. "