School district loses foodservice hub in four-alarm fire

ALBANY, Ore. — More than 70 firefighters from throughout the mid-valley attacked a four-alarm blaze at South Albany High School Wednesday morning.

Maria Delapoer, superintendent for the Greater Albany Public Schools, said South Albany Principal Brent Belveal called her about 4 a.m. The fire is believed to have started about 3:20 a.m. and has destroyed the kitchen, cafeteria, band and choir rooms.

Classes have been cancelled for today, but Delapoer said her staff will be discuss how to hold classes Thursday, as well as how to get meals to elementary schools whose lunch programs were prepared by the South Albany kitchen.

South Albany serves about 700 children on its own campus. The student body numbers about 1,300 students.

The South Albany cafeteria also serves seven Waverly, Oak, Clover Ridge, Lafayette, Sunrise, SouthShore, Periwinkle elementary schools, as well as the Albany Boys and Girls Club dinner and the community after school programs at Clover Ridge, Periwinkle and Lafayette.

Cook manager Lauri Robinson said getting meals to the Boys and Girls Club and the community after school program will be a problem today.