Winter snowfall takes its toll on school district

The mother of all North Idaho winters has left the Rathdrum School district with some very unusual problems. While no roofs in the district have collapsed, as in other areas, an all-out effort commenced last week to get the snow off the school roofs. Gym classes were canceled in several schools as a precaution, since gymnasiums tend to have longer roof spans than other areas of the schools, and are more prone to collapse.

Timberlake High School received help last week from the Idaho National Guard, until they were pulled out for an even more serious emergency of the same nature in Harrison. Since then, private contractors have been hired to clear the roofs.

Tom Taggart, spokesman for the Lakeland School District, told The Spokesman-Review that last weekend students 18 and older were given the opportunity by the district to work for pay, shoveling snow off roofs and from around buildings and walkways. Between 30 and 40 students grabbed the opportunity for making a few bucks and helping out their school. In some cases, especially in Spirit Lake, snow measured several feet deep. Heaped up on flat roofs, a near-emergency was averted by quick, decisive action. School officials, bus drivers, all, should be very proud of the job they have done under serious weather conditions.

Three days of school were lost due to serious snowfall in the last two weeks, shortening the summer vacations for all concerned. With the break in temperatures last week, hopefully, hard winter is over. However, Mother Nature can be capricious.

Bayview escaped serious damage, although some weaker carports and outbuildings collapsed under the weight of 2 or more feet of accumulated snow.