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Shelley Osterloh Reporting Today the reality of losing a school is setting in. Granite School district has asked teachers to write down the personal items they lost in the fire. For many, the list is long.
Yesterday we watched flames engulf a row of classrooms on the northside of Wasatch Jr. High. It's been hard for teachers to come by and see how little is left of their classrooms and school. The fire destroyed many books, lesson plans and teaching materials, but the memories will live on.
Glen Fagg: "Yes, my room is 211. On the second floor."
His room in the middle. Glen Fagg taught US History, Utah Studies and World Geography.
Glen Fagg, Retired Teacher Wasatch Jr. High: "I think the floors have collapsed out of all of those and about everything that was in there is gone. Either gone or burned up, or buried in the basement there."
Mr. Fagg retired this spring after 42 years of teaching at Wasatch Jr. High. His personal collection of teaching materials, collectibles and memorabilia was boxed and ready to be taken home.
Mr. Fagg: "I've lost thousand of my slides, hundreds of maps, all my books, all my lessons and things that I've used for the last 42 years."
His collection of slides from around the world, costumes, yearbooks, and photos of some of the 8-thousand plus student he's taught are all gone.
Mr. Fagg: "I lost a good share of my life right there. It's hard to walk away without shedding a few tears. I love that school."
Though he is sad about the fire, he says it does not blacken his many fond memories of a lifetime of teaching.
"I came in 1963 with nothing, and apparently I'm leaving with nothing. But a lot of great memories I will always hold in my heart."
No word yet on when teachers may be allowed back in to see what, if anything survived. The building sustained so much damage it may not be safe for people to go inside for a while. It's a tough loss for many.
