'I needed to see them in person': Lincoln Ave. school community pushing forward with post-fire plans

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The MPS plan to move nearly 500 Lincoln Avenue School students next school year continues to take shape.

Many questions remain about the devastating fire two weeks ago that destroyed the building, but the district and school community are also focusing their attention on the future.

Most of the Lincoln students have never been to Pulaski High School, but in a few short months, it will be home. So far, district administrators say they're getting buy-in from the community to help with the transition.

Lincoln Avenue Principal Damaris Ayala told us, "It's our heart. I needed to see them in person; they needed to see me. And that connection, nobody can replace."

Hope is returning to the Lincoln Avenue School family as plans to rebuild their identity move forward.

More students and families reconnected Tuesday, July 14, with teachers and staff at a second informational meeting about the next school year.

Ayala said, "A building is not there anymore, but our love for each other and our commitment is still very strong. I think stronger now than before. Because we know how important it is."

With plenty of people still grieving the fire that destroyed their home school, MPS has moved quickly to secure space in Pulaski High School.

It was just a short time ago that Pulaski housed a separate charter school with separate entrances, offices, and learning spaces. That infrastructure will go a long way towards helping Lincoln maintain its identity throughout.

At the meeting, the district shared what it knows: busing will continue and current students do not need to be re-enrolled.

And people asked more questions, like what support services are and will be available for students and staff still coping with the fire.

A woman named Gail told us, "One of my concerns was how the students, mostly the students and the staff, obviously, were going to react."

District leaders also shared what they don't yet know.

Superintendent Dr. Brenda Cassellius told the audience, "What I've heard from the community so far is that they want to see another building go right back up again."

Cassellius said it's still too early to make plans at the Lincoln site. "But [what] I can commit to this community," she said, "is that you'll be part of that process as we design it and as we move forward on what the next steps are."

Cassellius said there is no new update on the cause of the June 30 fire at Lincoln. She did say it's still being investigated by MFD, and because of that she cannot share any more information.