Community rallies around Verna Montessori School in Fayette County after burst pipe floods classrooms

The sisters of Verna Montessori School are thankful for the support of their community after they discovered a pipe had burst in the ceiling of the Bullskin, Fayette County, school on Christmas morning.

According to its principal, Sister Juliana Tengia, she and five other nuns were checking on the school on Prittstown Road over winter break when they found three of the preschool through kindergarten classrooms heavily damaged by the water. They called emergency services and carried some of the furniture into dry areas.

“The emergency services did not have the equipment to get rid of the water,” Tengia said. “After they helped us carry the furniture, the sisters and I took brooms and swept as much water out as we could.”

Word spread quickly. The following day, families showed up with vacuums, and some sent equipment to clean up the water.

“We have wonderful parents in the school,” Tengia said. “Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, parents and volunteers have been at the school to help with repairs. It looks so much better already.”

Parent auxiliary president Jeremy Bryson and his wife, Nicole, started a GoFundMe page to help pay for repairs.

“The sisters are so sweet,” Nicole Bryson said. “They’re the directresses of the school. They teach, they help the children, they really put everything into this school. The school is nonprofit, so they’re not making money off it. They have a very modest living, and they share amongst themselves. They don’t really have funds to pay for all of this damage.”

Funds raised will be going toward repair costs not covered by insurance and replacing smaller items that were damaged, such as books, paper, flashcards and other supplies.

“It’s a Montessori school, so they use a lot of smaller materials to help with lesson plans,” Nicole Bryson said. “Thousands of little pieces were either damaged or completely destroyed in the water.”

Tengia’s biggest concern is replacing carpeting and insulation to prevent mold.

“Everything is almost clean, but our fear is mold,” Tengia said. “With everything soaking like that, mold might set. Our children do activities on the floor, so we need to get the carpeting changed. That will probably be the most expensive repair. It won’t be good for their health if it is not taken care of.”

Volunteers have cut off damaged drywall and set out fans and humidifiers to dry remaining water in preparation for returning students on Tuesday. Preschool through kindergarten students will be relocated within the school until repairs are complete.