West Virginia State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Martirano speaks with children at Gatewood Elementary School on Monday.
FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — On their first day of school Monday, 80 Gatewood Elementary students walked through double doors and directly into a room that will serve as their cafeteria, gymnasium, music class, art room, library and auditorium.
“We make it work,” said Principal Paul Thompson. “We get our money’s worth out of one room.”
The room has a beige-yellow carpet and, although extremely clean and tidy, it shows its wear.
Along the right side of the wall, the Title 1 teacher is cordoned off by shelving and books — the school’s makeshift library. Lining the walls are brights posters, a refrigerator and doors to the school’s six classrooms and principal’s office.
Thompson said he often leaves his office so it can be used for speech therapy, which needs a quiet atmosphere, although students are used to eating lunch quietly when they need to…
