SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane Public Schools welcomed students back Wednesday for the first day of the school year, marking a return to routine for a district still recovering from devastating fires that displaced 207 students and staff members.
The fires affected 143 homes across the district, according to SPS. Because several homes housed multiple students or staff members, the total number of people affected exceeds the number of homes damaged. The school district confirmed that 169 students and 38 staff members lost their homes.
Indian Trail Elementary bore the brunt of the impact. About 50 students at the school lost their homes in the fires, while another 15 remain unable to return due to ongoing damage.
Despite the hardships, school leaders at Indian Trail prioritized getting students back into the classroom. Teachers only gained access to the building last Monday after district officials completed safety tests. The elementary school building itself sustained no physical damage, but smoke and flames surrounding the structure required thorough inspection before the district deemed it safe for occupancy.
“We just felt like, we have to get these kids here,” said Breanna Cull, Indian Trail Elementary Principal. “We know that routine is the number one thing that will help them process what they went through and so we want to get them in that routine so we know what they need to help them in the next couple of months or year.”
To support students navigating this difficult transition, Indian Trail Elementary adjusted its daily schedule. Each classroom will now begin the day with 25 to 30 minutes dedicated to check-ins and connection time.
Cull said all affected families chose to remain at Indian Trail Elementary rather than transfer to other schools for convenience. Some students now bus in from across the district, with one student traveling from as far as Medical Lake.
Melissa Skindlov, a guest teacher and parent at the school, reflected on the community’s strength. “Kids are resilient they are going to show up with their happy little spirits that are going to spread joy which is what we all need,” she said.
School officials credited the community’s support during recovery efforts, describing the Indian Trail Elementary community as a close-knit group determined to move forward together.
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