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Students Displaced After Fire Consumes West Philly Charter School

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Classes at Global Leadership Academy in West Philadelphia are suspended until January 18th due to a massive fire that ripped through the Warren Street building Sunday morning.

The school's CEO, Dr. Naomi Johnson-Booker is holding a meeting tonight at 5:30, at Bible Way Baptist Church near 52nd and Master streets. School District of Philadelphia has offered GLA a temporary building. GLA has not made a decision on whether they will use that building or others offered to them.

Dr. Johnson- Booker says so far the community has been extremely helpful.

"This shows me this is what I teach my children and this is what the world is doing for us," said Johnson-Booker.

The charter school's permanent home at 46th and Girard is under construction, and won't be complete until this summer. The school was actually renting the building that burned, from Greater Bible Way Temple, which suffered some smoke damage inside the sanctuary.

"We hope to rebuild on the same property," said Bishop Benjamin Peterson. "We've been here 26 years and by the grace of God we'll rise again."

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Reported by Jericka Duncan, CBS 3

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