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Sunday, May. 11, 2008

Bibb schools closed Monday; Westside, Southwest, Rice damaged

Bibb County schools will be closed Monday as officials continue to assess damage to the buildings.

Also, Macon State College, Central Georgia Technical College, Tattnall Square, Academy, Twiggs Academy and Mount de Sales Academy, First Presbyterian Day School and Stratford Academy will be closed Monday. Johnson County schools will be closed until at least Wednesday.

Of the schools, Westside High was the hardest hit, although Southwest High and Rice Elementary also sustained damage, Bibb Superintendent Sharon Patterson said thi afternoon.

Some schools have lost power, she said.

At Westside High, holes pepper the roof, portables have been pushed on their sides, air conditioners have been moved, glass windows and doors have been blown out and water lies on the gym floor, Patterson said.

Rice Elementary and Southwest High both have sustained roof damage, she said. The construction trailer at Southwest also has been overturned, she said.

"You can imagine this is a difficult time," Patterson said. "Graduation is upon us, and certainly there are many state tests that have to still be taken in order to meet the requirements for No Child Left Behind, so we're going to be looking for alternative sites to do that testing."

Patterson advised teachers, staff and students to stay at home. However, the central office will remain open, and principals will meet there Monday morning to make the necessary plans. The school board will decide in the afternoon whether to open schools on Tuesday, Patterson said.

There are 2,500 children in the Bibb County school system.