By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–It’s back to normal for Union City Elementary School students and staff Monday.
Repairs have been made and the “all-good” sign has been given by UC School System Director Wes Kennedy to re-open the elementary school after a gas leak last week forced classes to be moved to the Union City High School campus for three days.
Students and UCES personnel will return to their buildings and classrooms Monday, though, and operate on the regular school day schedule. An all-call will contact parents of students and school personnel today.
Crews from Revell Construction, CAM Electric and the Union City School System Maintenance Department worked both diligently and overtime to fix the issue and tested those repairs over the weekend.
Kennedy notified administrators and faculty Sunday that “all systems are go” at UCHS and lauded the group for their “great attitudes, flexibility and team spirit” during this past week.
“It was definitely a team effort all week long, but we made it look easy. I believe this past week brought us closer together as a system and it greatly increased everyone’s admiration and respect for their colleagues in different schools. Great friendships were either strengthened or made this week within our faculty and staffs and I know my admiration and respect for each person on our staff increased because of last week.”
More than 700 students from Pre-K through the fourth grade adjusted their daily schedules and routines due to the problem, moving to the UCHS campus, where classes were held at several different venues.
Faculties from both UCHS and Union City Middle School pitched in to help their fellow teachers and administrators, making the contingency plan run smoothly.
Kennedy said all gas is back on and all pilot lights are lit at UCES. All desks, computers and other equipment that was moved are back in their normal place(s).
The top UCSS administrator, who also lauded the Union City Police Department for its help with traffic flow in both the mornings and afternoons, had special words of praise and thanks for Craig McManus of CAM Electric and Jason Revell of Revell Construction.
“Those men went above and beyond – pulling their crews off other jobs and bringing them to UCES to help us get back up and running,” Kennedy claimed. “It put them behind on some of their other jobs, but they were willing and able to help us in a great time of need. We’re so very appreciative.”
“And, it is great to be a Golden Tornado!”
