New high school is a sinkhole refuge

Teachers from Trapnell Elementary School wheeled backpacks and tote bags stuffed with supplies across the campus of Strawberry Crest High.

The good-natured group huddled against the morning chill at the high school bus drop off area, where they waited Jan. 20 to greet their third through fifth grade students.

"I've got more pencils in my trunk if anyone needs them," art teacher Kiley Hingle said.

Some 560 students from Trapnell are attending classes at Strawberry Crest and nearby Bailey Elementary because of a suspected sinkhole at their Plant City school. Trapnell students in the Head Start program, preschool and kindergarten through second grade are attending classes at Bailey.

On the Trapnell students' first day at the new locations, Strawberry Crest Principal David Brown helped deputies direct traffic near the shared entrance to the two schools. Strawberry Crest students Elizabeth Almand and Michelle Elser held up a banner, welcoming parents and students to the school off Interstate 4.

High school secretary Susan Lyons fielded phone calls in the front office from parents concerned about the media presence at the school.

"It's OK, everything is just fine," Lyons assured callers.

Busloads of students from Trapnell began arriving at Strawberry Crest about 15 minutes after high school classes were in session.

Pint-sized youngsters from Trapnell appeared dazzled as they stepped off the bus and surveyed the state-of-the-art, $64 million, 200,000-square-foot campus that opened in August.

Rachel Turner got off the bus and ran to her art teacher, Kiley Hingle, for a hug. The third-grader, speechless, was all smiles.

"What do you think about this?" Hingle said. "You skipped middle school and came right to high school!"

The teachers took turns ushering arrivals inside the building to get warm and start the school day.

Technology resources teacher Harry Ballard said the group was well-organized and planned to make the most of its temporary refugee camp.

"It'll go really well," Ballard said. "We're very well organized, and we'll be creative."