Almost two months since a fire destroyed a building at the University Laboratory School, officials still are struggling with getting the campus back in order — shuffling schedules to accommodate displaced teachers and students and searching for space to hold classes.

Another problem: disposing of mounds of debris left behind when a spectacular late-afternoon blaze on June 13 destroyed a building that housed the music, theater and athletic programs.

Jo Ann Viernes, whose daughter Kelly will be a freshman at the Lab School this year, said she is concerned that students will be exposed to rubble.

"I would really hope that the debris would be removed in time for school, especially for the smaller kids," she said.

And while the university says it intends to re-build the destroyed building, Viernes said her daughter and her classmates will miss out on the opportunities that the building provided.

"It was a building with nothing but good memories for the kids," she said. "Getting a new building with the way the state works — it's very unlikely it will be completed in her last four years at the school."

The charter school, which is operated by the College of Education at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa's Curriculum, Research and Development Group, will begin classes on Aug. 21 — the same time as the rest of the UH system.

The school community still is reeling, less than two weeks before classes resume, people associated with the school said.

"The school — it's in flux right now," said Celia Khim, a Lab School alumna who attended the school from age 4 until she graduated from high school. "I feel for the students because I know how hard it's going to be to start school."

Added James Bukes, athletic director at the Lab School: "That building is going to be sorely missed. One of our biggest obstacles now is space. How are we going to overcome that incredible loss of space?"

Officials have ordered four portable classrooms to address the new space crunch, but they are not expected until November because they are being built on the Mainland, said Kathy Cutshaw, vice chancellor for administration, finance and operations.

In the meantime, students will be accommodated at other areas on campus and possibly in rented space at the nearby Atherton YMCA, she said.

Chorus, drama and weight lifting classes are expected to be housed in three of the four portables once they arrive on campus in November. The portables also will be used for general classes, such as mathematics and English. Another portable is expected to house faculty from the Curriculum, Research and Development Group, Cutshaw said.

Debris disposal was slowed by preliminary testing that indicated the presence of lead, Cutshaw said. Following further testing, officials will be able to say whether it is safe to dispose of the debris on-Island or whether it would need to be shipped to the Mainland for disposal, said Don Young, dean of the College of Education at UH-Manoa.

"I expect by the end of this month, (the debris) will be gone," Young said.

Lack of space and debris removal are the most pressing problems. But replacing material that was lost — athletic equipment, costumes and props from the theater program and instruments and sheet music from the band and orchestra program — also complicates the recovery.

Kevin Olafsson, orchestra director at the Lab School, said all but one cello was destroyed in the fire. New instruments have been ordered and should arrive soon, Young said.

"I hope they are here on the first day of school, but if they are not, obviously I will be doing some music appreciation and theory classes until they arrive," Olafsson said.

He said the bigger issue when school starts will be where all the classes will be. "We lost the building that houses athletics, orchestra, choir, drama, hula. All of these classes that we used to have in that wonderful, yet rundown, old building are having to be relocated. Space is a huge deal."

Many within the Lab School community, including alumni and faculty members, were concerned about whether the university eventually would rebuild the 67-year-old L-shaped building that many considered the heart of the K-12 campus.

Fire officials have estimated damage at $6 million for the building and $500,000 for contents, and school officials have said those figures could go up.

The blaze was intentionally set, fire officials said. No arrests have been made.

Cutshaw said there is a commitment from the university to replace the building. The university will ask the Legislature for capital improvement money to be used for a replacement building, she said.

"That is very good news," Khim said. As an alumna, she said she was considering lobbying for a new building because she had fears that her "alma mater will slowly disappear."

Young said insurance will cover the cost of rebuilding the lost structure in its original form. But Young said the building likely will cost more than the $6 million damage estimate because the replacement will be a very different structure.

"I wouldn't say rebuild, because that means replacing the building as it was. That won't happen. There is a commitment to build a new building," Young said.

Reach Loren Moreno at lmoreno@honoluluadvertiser.com.