Students at Esperanza Academy returned to classes as usual on Monday, Sept. 22, following a small fire at the school. The electrical fire started in an unoccupied room at about 2 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 15. The Lawrence fire department quickly contained the fire and limited damage to an area of the school’s second floor, and the school leadership team implemented its fire response plan. There were no reported injuries.
“We are, above all, thankful no students, faculty or firefighters were hurt in this event,” wrote Lillian Leggio, Esperanza’s director of admissions, development and communications, in a news release on Sept. 19. “We are grateful for the poise of the school’s leadership team during the crisis, and for the support of our students, their families, our teachers, members of the Lawrence community and especially Lawrence firefighters, who proficiently limited the damage to our school.”
Esperanza Academy raises 100 percent of its annual operating budget through private donations and provides a tuition-free independent school education to middle school girls in Lawrence.
“We are ecstatic and grateful that the [repair] work was done and we can return to our important mission,” Leggio said on Monday, Sept. 22.