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Ritchie Elementary School students could return to their regular classrooms later this week as portable air conditioners continue to tackle the heat there.
Fourth- and fifth-grade students from Ritchie spent last week -- the first week of school -- at Wheeling Middle School as renovations continue at their school. A new air conditioning unit there isn't yet ready for use.
Portable air conditioning units are being used to cool the three-story building, said Director of Maintenance Brian Harto. The fourth- and fifth-grade students attend classes on the third floor, where temperatures have been especially high. But the classrooms are expected to be habitable once again sometime this week.
"Ritchie School is getting cooler by the minute," Superintendent Kim Miller said. "We are hoping by mid-week that our fourth- and fifth-graders will be back at Ritchie Elementary School. That is our hope."
About 100 students are beginning their school day at Ritchie with breakfast, then being transported to nearby Wheeling Middle School. They are bused back to Ritchie at the end of the day.
Excessive heat and air conditioning issues were only two of the problems faced by Ohio County Schools staff during the first week of school.
The week began with heavy rains on Aug. 14, drains backing up, and flooding at Bridge Street Middle School, Triadelphia Middle School and Steenrod Elementary School.
On Aug. 16, all schools in the county were placed on lockdown after a reported home invasion at a fraternity house near Bethany College. The suspect was at large, and Miller said she thought it best to lock down the schools.
On Wednesday, Elm Grove Elementary was placed on lockdown after a suicidal man in the neighborhood barricaded himself in his home with a gun in what was first reported as a hostage situation.
Then on Friday, some schools lost power after a tractor trailer took out a power pole on Stone Church Road.
"We had a very exciting first week of school," Miller said. "We had power out at three of our schools -- Elm Grove, Steenrod and Triadelphia. Those three schools ran like the power was on -- just like clockwork."
Board members commended Miller and her staff for their efforts at handling these situations during the first week of school.
"I realize it's been a trying week -- flooding, heat in Ritchie -- but I'm very proud of how you persevered and got through it," board member Tim Birch said. "It says a lot about your staff … a lot about your principals. I feel very proud to be a part of it."