THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 27, 1996 TAG: 9608270255
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PHYLLIS SPEIDELL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: 39 lines
The public school system kicked off its year Monday with a routine to rival any class-changing confusion.
After hundreds of teachers, administrators and others arrived for the kickoff at Lakeland High School, school officials announced that the auditorium's air conditioning was out and that the session would be held across town, at Nansemond River High.
As late arrivals streamed into Lakeland's parking lot, others headed out.
Policeman A.L. Weaver, the school liaison who was on duty, called another officer to help direct traffic at Kenyon Road and U.S. Route 58.
As the 15-minute caravan exited Route 58, the officers again assisted at left turns onto Wilroy Road and Nansemond Parkway. The line of vehicles - which police compared to a funeral procession - inched toward Nansemond River and one more left turn into the parking lot - fighting a steady stream of southbound traffic detouring around roadwork just beyond the school.
Lakeland Principal William ``Billy'' Hill blamed thunderstorms Sunday for the malfunctioning of the air conditioning system.
``We got our power back on Sunday and thought the air conditioning would come on as scheduled, at 4 this morning,'' he said. When Hill arrived at the school a few hours later, there was no air conditioning and no quick fix for the system, which is computerized.
Many of the staffers were having breakfast in the Lakeland cafeteria when they were told that the meeting would be convened at Nansemond River.
Word of the change was passed from leaving car to entering car, and the resulting maneuvers added to the confusion.
Although no one took along the large, hand-painted ``Welcome Back Staffers'' banner that hung in front of Lakeland, most people reached Nansemond River before 9:30, and the meeting went on as planned.
``Nansemond River had to rush to get ready for us, but it all turned out well,'' Hill said. ``That's good teamwork.'' by CNB