OAKDALE — Reconstruction of Oakdale Elementary School after a massive fire destroyed nearly 80 percent of the building is not happening as quickly as school officials want.

Superintendent Michael Doucet told School Board members Monday efforts to clear the debris has been slow because the fire is still smoldering between the ceiling and rooftop. Safety concerns for firefighters have prevented local volunteers from entering that part of the building to extinguish the smoldering embers.

“Stabilization which is ongoing consists of the fire completely out, which as of today is still smoldering and still visible,” Doucet said.

Contractors with the necessary insurance may be hired to enter the structure to put out the hot spots and begin removing the debris, he said.

Plans to move forward are also awaiting completion of several reports, he said.

“My personal goal is to have a plan completed on the process for the startup of school by the end of the week,” Doucet said. “We will then plan for a public meeting to meet with parents of elementary students and interested parties to go over details and to assure parents their students will be OK and will have a safe place to go.”

Doucet anticipates reports from insurance and adjusters, structural and mechanical engineers associated with insurance to be issued soon.

“We also have had the School Board’s architects and their structural and mechanical engineers reviewing the damages and reports for rebuttal of any findings we disagree with,” he said.

Doucet said his first priority is to get the assessment for cleanup of debris which will allow for the inspection of the present slab and the beginning of evaluating the possibility of using the undamaged wing.

The architect will have all criteria for removal of debris and construction of temporary walls, sidewalks, fire alarm, covered awnings and electrical and water hookup in a bid package for construction companies to quote next week.

“Plans for reconstruction will begin as soon as we get the demolition started,” he said.

Maintenance has started the protection and sealing of the south wing which had very little damage, he said.

“Hopefully this portion of the plant may be used for the upcoming school year for grades pre-K through first,” he said.

Officials have secured the area and put signs up to keep citizens away from the building for safety purposes, he said.

School officials are now working to evaluate what it will take to restore electricity and water to this part of the campus as well as walkways, safety barriers between the damaged and undamaged areas and restoring fire codes.

Evaluation is also in progress for plans for housing second grade through fourth grade while reconstruction is underway.

Food service is also researching the options that exist for feeding students with no cafeteria on campus.

The board adopted a resolution Monday authorizing Doucet to negotiate contracts for the purchase, lease or other accommodations, to serve as temporary classrooms until a new, permanent school is built and to replace any furnishings damaged or destroyed in the fire.

A holding building for books, papers, appliances and other materials has been secured in downtown Oakdale to store items collected for the upcoming school year. Many of the items are being donated by the community and other schools including Sabine Parish which  has donated 250 student desks.