The separation of church and state has long been a political debate, but in the town of Salina, the uniting of the two has kept classes open after the school flooded.

School officials arrived Monday morning to an unwelcome surprise.

“The water line beneath a sink busted loose,” Middle School Principal Honesti Williams said. “The line was no bigger than the size of a pinky.”

But the small line caused big problems.

Though no one knows exactly when the line came loose, they do know an entire weekend passed before it was discovered.

“When I arrived, they were sweeping water out the doors,” Williams said. “Every single classroom was affected, except for two on the far west side of the building.”

School was cancelled while damage was assessed and options could be considered.

While water levels didn’t reach very high, the absorption by the sheetrock told a different story.

“Damage measured 22 – 24 inches up the wall,” Williams said.

Superintendent Tony Thomas contacted Pastor Johnny Faught of Salina First Baptist Church. Located just down the road from the school, it has a large campus and several buildings.

“Tony called me and asked if we could help,” Faught said. The church sprung into immediate action.

The education building, located west of the sanctuary was readied for students with the help of church volunteers working alongside school personnel.

Some of the rooms were awaiting ballast and light replacements, a task on the church’s “to-do” list. All repairs were completed in anticipation of the students’ arrival.

“They furnished tables and chairs for all of the rooms,” Williams said. “They have been amazing.”

Even left over school supplies from the church’s outreach program, which provides supplies to families at the beginning of the school year, were donated to assist in the effort.

The building was large enough to accommodate all of the classes at the middle school.

Students have a light breakfast on site, but are bussed back to the school for lunch at the cafeteria.

Even the classes located in the unaffected rooms at the school were relocated because of air quality concerns.

“The air quality guys are coming tomorrow to test the building,” Williams said. “Then we will know more about what we need to do.”

Meanwhile, school will remain in session at their new temporary home.

“This is one of the greatest parts of being in a small town,” Faught said. “We’re here for one another. We’ve got each other’s back.”

It is not known yet how long it will be before students can return to the school, but Faught isn’t concerned.

“Whatever they need, for as long as they need, we’ll work around them being here,” he said, adding that he knows that were the tables turned, the school would do the same thing for the church.

“Our community is truly amazing,” Williams said. “This is their education building, and it really truly is. It’s been perfect.”

A water line the size of a pinky united a church, a school and a community, providing an education to students, and a lesson for all.