By Eileen Buckley
Tonawanda, NY – Classes were cancelled once again Tuesday at Kenmore West High School. Crews continue to clean up from a suspicious fire that caused extensive damage to the school's kitchen and cafeteria Sunday.
Environmental experts are conducting air quality test inside Kenmore West High School on Delaware Road. Heavy smoke filled the school when the blaze broke out in a loading dock area near the kitchen Sunday. Kenmore-Tonawanda School Superintendent Steve Achramovitch says they are working to reopen the school by Wednesday, once the building is deemed safe for students and staff to return.
"We are really counting on bringing back the school kids this Wednesday," Achramovitch said. "But right now we are continuing air checks and cleanup efforts."
Achramovitch says because of heavy damage to the kitchen alternative plans are underway to prepare lunches in parts of the building. The superintendent says he believes the school will be "fully operational" once it reopens with the exception of the smell of smoke.
"There will be the smell of smoke," he said. "There won't be any question about that, but we will make sure there is nothing hazardous remaining in the air that would be dangerous to our students and staff."
Achramovitch says the fire has disrupted a number of school activities planned for this week.
"It's difficult at this point, especially with end of the year events," he explained. "We have post prom activities schedule for this Friday. So we want to get the building operating as normally as possible and get kids back in there."
Achramovitch says if Kenmore West does not reopen by this week they will make alternative plans for students to continue classes in order to fulfill the number of days required for the school year.