Schools become storm shelters

HIGHLAND — As the storm finally broke and roads in northern Utah County began to clear Thursday, worried parents rushed to Ridgeline Elementary School in Highland to pick up their sleepy children.

The stranded students spent the night at the school, playing games and watching movies, finally falling asleep around 11 p.m. as they waited out the blizzard conditions. The wind blew drifts up to 6 feet high outside the Highland school, 6250 W. 11800 North.

Teachers stayed up, eating snacks, talking, laughing and even singing "Kumbaya" in a circle. Parents began to trickle in at 6 a.m. to retrieve their kids.

"It's been an adventure," said Rich Chiniquy. He hugged both his daughters, his arms wrapped snugly around each girl 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 vehicle and started to walk home. He got a ride to his house from police just after midnight.

"They're my kids. I had to make an attempt," he said. "It was worth the eight hours."

Chiniquy went to the school Thursday morning using back roads.

About 180 people were at Ridgeline late Wednesday night. By Thursday at 6 a.m. there were 100 people there, including 65 students, 19 faculty, 13 parents and three small children. Eventually, they all made it home Thursday.

Many of the students were ones who had gone out on the buses after school at about 3:40 p.m. Ten of the buses were unable to complete their routes and had to return to the school. The final bus, transporting 30 children, rolled back to the school at 9:30 p.m. — an almost six-hour trek to nowhere.

First-grade teacher Kristina Chidester said many of the children were scared and crying when they arrived back at 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."

Approximately 45 students were trapped at Harvest Elementary School, 2105 N. Providence Drive in Saratoga Springs, until 9:30 p.m. Wednesday. The electricity went off at 5 p.m. Seven teachers spent the night.

Some parents said they believe Alpine School District officials should have let school out early Wednesday so the entire scenario could have been avoided.