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Dianne Hoskins has been hailed as a hero by the press, her colleagues and the Muskego community for getting 25 4th graders out of her Tess Corners Elementary classroom seconds before the ceiling collapsed.
But Hoskins believes her students are the heroes for acting so quickly and calmly — and so she made a red badge of courage for each of them.
On a sunny October morning, six days after the accident, those students wore their badges as they sat in the classroom having milk and cookies.
"Today I had that class for the first time," Hoskins said. "I did notice as they were having their cookies and glass of milk some of them were looking up — they were checking the ceiling out."
Even though it had been almost a week, Hoskins was visibly upset as she sat in her classroom and recounted the story for News & Views:
"The children were working quietly on assignments. Some were sitting in chairs. Others were on the floor.
"We heard a crack. And just like that, it instantly got quiet. I could see this section of the ceiling starting to come down about 6 inches.
"I said 'Boys and girls, you need to get out of the room.' They got out immediately. Just then, I saw a custodian by my door and I said, 'Look what happened,' and just like that, the ceiling came down. There was a boom.
"He was just ashen. He and I just stood there."
She said some of the students' art boxes were crushed and colored pencils were broken in half.
"Someone said the whole ceiling didn't come down, but it did," she said. "The TV helped break the fall of it. The ceiling pulled two lights loose.
"I still hate to think about it. I get so upset." In fact, she had to go to her physician later that day.
"I was hysterical. I was in shock. My blood pressure was high, and I don't normally have a problem with my blood pressure. I was shaking, and couldn't breathe.
"The doctor told me I shouldn't be so upset. But I asked him when was the last time he had 25 kids in his care and have the ceiling collapse. He said never. Then I told him he shouldn't talk."
Hoskins said she is thankful nobody was hurt. And her students were grateful too, she said.
Later that day, one 4th-grade girl came up to Hoskins, grabbed her arm and said: "I don't know how I'm ever going to repay you for saving my life."
"I was crying. She was crying," Hoskins said, her eyes still watering at the thought.
ULE/Muskego Building Rep. Claire Warnke said Hoskins is a hero. "Someone could have been killed," he said.
The incident is far from over.
Lakewood UniServ Council Director Mike McNett said the association is asking the district to have all the suspended ceilings inspected by a third-party contractor to assure the safety of staff and students. The association is also asking for ceiling installation bids received by the district and inspection reports from before and after the incident.
Hoskins also blames Governor Thompson's school financing policies, including revenue controls, for making it difficult for the district to afford proper maintenance.
"The students should be able to attend school in a place where they know they are safe," she said.
Posted October 29, 1996