From Deseret News archives:
Kids, teachers head home after being stranded overnight at Highland school
The stranded students spent the night at the school, playing games and watching movies, and finally falling asleep around 11 p.m. as they waited out the blizzard-like conditions.
The school principal was at a conference in St. George. The teachers stayed up the entire night, eating snacks, talking, laughing and even singing "Kumbaya" in a circle.
Parents began to trickle in at 6 a.m. Thursday to retrieve their children.
"It's been an adventure," said Rich Chiniquy, as he hugged both his daughters with each arm while walking down the school hallway.
Chiniquy was stuck for eight hours in his car Wednesday night attempting to reach his girls. He finally abandoned his car, started to walk, and got a ride home from police just after midnight.
"They're my kids. I had to make an attempt," he said. "It was worth the eight hours." Chiniquy then went to the school Thursday morning using back roads.
About 180 people were at Ridgeline late Thursday night. By Thursday at 6 a.m. 100 were still there, including 65 students, 19 faculty, 13 parents and three small children.
First-grade teacher Kristina Chidester said many of the children were scared and crying when they arrived back to the school after the long bus ride. "I just hugged them," Chidester said.
Chiniquy said, "I'm happy people were willing to spend all night here and take care of them."
Some parents said they believe Alpine district officials should have let school out early Wednesday and gotten the students home safe.
"I think the district has failed us and failed to respond to the needs of this school. I don't know if they were aware of the severity of the situation," said parent Vickie Iverson, who has a sixth-grader at the school. "As a parent, I am outraged that we would ask our teachers to work 24 hours nonstop, only to begin another contract day with no pay, no reward and no thanks," Iverson said. "The district needs to be held accountable for their decision."
Recent comments
I don't know about you, but I was taught that writing in all caps is...
Ummm... | May 2, 2008 at 10:43 p.m.
I give a big kudos to the teachers who stayed I wouldn't blame any...
cl in eagle mountain | Feb. 15, 2008 at 10:49 a.m.
Isn't it amazing!!! Utah has been in drought conditions for years...
Laughin' at you all | Feb. 15, 2008 at 5:52 a.m.
Looking through snow splattered front doors, students leave with their parents from Ridgeline Elementary Thursday morning after spending the night. Students that were stranded over night at Ridgeline Elementary in Highland due to the snow storm that swept into northern Utah County Wednesday afternoon.
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