PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The first day of school on Tuesday meant a little more to students at Frankford High. They returned to their school building for the first time since April, when asbestos forced them to finish last year online.
The Philadelphia School District has sealed off what’s known as the “Old Wing” of Frankford High, and on the first day of school, sophomores, juniors and seniors entered the annex known as the “New Wing.”
Admittedly, students say it’s a bit cramped.
“They took the top floor and they built classrooms, actual classrooms with accordion walls,” one senior explained.
“We have a smaller cafeteria,” said a junior. “I think the gym is accessible, but everything just seems a lot more hectic.”
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Students spent the final two months of last school year learning virtually because damaged asbestos was found in their 107-year-old building. One senior is simply glad to be back face-to-face with his teachers and friends.
“It’s a great feeling,” he said. “It’s good to get out of the house and be with the people that you used to be with last year.”
His classmate agreed, but he doesn’t know if he’ll be able to endure an entire year under close quarters. “Being cluttered, it’s just going to build a lot of discomfort with a lot of people in the school.”
Not everyone is back together, though. Three hundred Frankford freshmen are temporarily attending classes in space at Roberto Clemente Middle School.
“I wish everything was back the way it was,” said a junior. “It’s very different and a lot more crowded because we’re only in one spot of the school rather than having the whole entire school open.
“I mean, it’s not that bad,” she added, “but it was better before.”