LAWTON, Okla_The Robert E. Greiner School for the Handicapped is in
desperate need of a make-over. About a month and a half ago, Greiner employees
found out the school was infested with asbestos. After the facility was abated,
it was in worse condition than it was before, with cracked flooring, hanging
ceiling tiles and plants growing into the building. It's in such bad shape
students have been relocated to a local church. The new executive director is
dedicating herself to fixing the building, and getting the students back to
their school.
The school is a non-profit organization. They depend totally on the
support of the community. At one time, the school was connected with United Way, but in
2008 their funding was dropped. New Executive Director Schlunda Leslie is
trying to get back on board with United
Way. She's also applied for three grants, each one
of them, she's been denied.
Leslie walked us through the Greiner
School. There's a need in
every room and around every corner.
"We need
total new plumbing, total new electrical. We have to get the ceiling tile, we
have to get the floor tile, and we have to get trees dug up to stop the
foundation from cracking."
Until these
expensive problems are fixed, the students at Greiner are spending their days at
a church off Cache Road.
This is their third move since the asbestos abatement. Among the students tired
of moving from location to location is 35 year old Marlena. Her mother is on
the board and said the constant uprooting that has been going on lately is
frustrating to the students.
"This is
home away from home and people don't understand that."
The changes
confuse them and they wonder if they'll even have a school to come to anymore.
"One of
the students came up to me and said, 'is our school closed down?' and I said no
who told you that and he said, 'well, my mom.' I said, your school's not
closed. I'm working very hard to get you back in the school and he grabbed me
and hugged me and started clapping his hands," Leslie said.
Leslie has only
been with the school since July and at first the job wasn't all that desirable.
"I'm going
to be honest with you, when I first pulled up to the building, I said, this is
not a school."
Her feelings
changed, the moment she met a Greiner student.
"The
student came up to me and gave me a big hug and said are you going to be our
new director? And I looked at the student and I said, if you'll have me I
will."
Since that day,
this project has consumed her. She said since becoming executive director at
the Greiner School, her whole outlook on life has
changed.
"I didn't
realize the need for special people like them. I don't want to call them handicapped
or mentally retarded, they're special. I have more of a sincerity in life, just
for the human race, period."
Schlunda Leslie said topping the priority list is getting the electrical
and plumbing problems solved. She's hoping to get those services done for free.
There is a fundraiser planned for December 15th at the school at 10 a.m.
There will be a bazaar and a fish fry and anyone is welcome to check out the
facility and donate.
