Charter School Fire Devastates Students, Parents

ATLANTA, Ga. - Parents say they were heartbroken to see their children’s beloved school in flames on Friday moing. The KIPP WAYS Academy charter school was badly damaged by a massive fire on Friday moing.

The KIPP WAYS Academy charter school was severely damaged by a large fire Friday moing. School officials scrambled Friday moing to direct buses, students and parents away from the blaze. Parents say they were heartbroken to see their children’s school go up in flames.

By the time some parents arrived at the school, the building had already suffered significant fire damage.

"Oh my God, my baby's school is on fire. I just stood there. I couldn't move," said Yolanda Davis, a parent.

The brick structure on the city's west side caught fire just an hour and a half before 320 children were to report to class. School officials scrambled to get the news to parents, but many had already heard by phone. They say they were devastated.

Darlene Scott says she was saddened by the news because she is proud of her school.

”The students put in long hours and we have a lot of pride in the school. We've had a great loss today," Scott said.

Another parent, Kimberly Traylor, says the fire "hurt her heart."

Although the building is not a total loss, it will take some time before classes can resume there. School officials have canceled classes for Friday. Officials say classes will resume at the former Tuer Middle School in northwest Atlanta on Monday.

If you'd like to make a donation to the KIPP WAYS Academy Recovery Fund, CLICK HERE FOR A LINK TO THEIR WEBSITE.