Lightning knocked out the school fire alarm; firefighter on watch daily

What happened

The district's main fire alarm panel was hit by lightning over the summer. On September 24, 2026 the superintendent said the new district-wide system will cost just under $230,000. Insurance will cover all but the $10,000 deductible. Until it works, the district must keep a licensed firefighter on campus every school day.

Why it matters to families

Students are in buildings without a working fire alarm, so safety depends on the daily fire watch. The superintendent said finding firefighters has been hard because many are fighting wildfires. The $10,000 deductible comes from a tight budget.

The evidence

September 24, 2026 recording: "The total came out to just under two hundred and thirty thousand. Our insurance has indicated that they will cover it all except for the deductible, which is ten thousand ... We still are under fire watch ... every day we have a licensed firefighter on campus." July 23, 2026 recording: the board approved the "purchase and installation of a new district-wide fire alarm" because "our main panel ... was hit by lightning."

The source