Superintendent: Dare Elementary Students Won't Return to Classrooms This Year

By Amber Lester Kennedy Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Water damage at Dare Elementary School, shown in this file photo from September, forced students out of classrooms for the school year.

Williams told the School Board on Monday that its performance bond company, Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland, has opted to take over renovations at the school. Its new timeline estimates the earliest date of completion will be in May, just as students begin standardized testing.

The surety company agreed York County Schools should continue with its ongoing projects, including roof repairs. In December, the School Board voted to terminate its contract with American Veteran Construction after it says the company failed to finish renovations at the school on time and lengthened the delays when workers didn’t secure the construction site during Hurricane Irene. Several rooms suffered water damage as a result.

The board’s notice to American Veteran Construction demanded the company and its subcontractors cease and desist all work as of Jan. 6. The remaining work includes roof work, remediation in the interior of the building for water damage and remediation in Mechanical Equipment Rooms. Those projects will cost an estimated $182,164.

Mark Tschirhart, associate director for capital plans and projects, told the board Monday the roof company is working on the roof now and delivering work of “a far superior quality.” He added that with the exception of four classrooms, the building has been completely cleaned and samples have been taken to determine if any toxic mold grew. He said all samples came back clear. Mechanical equipment must be removed from the four remaining rooms before they can be cleaned.

In December, students moved into an eight-classroom portable unit. A two-classroom unit previously used for classes has been converted into a library, and the gym is serving as a cafeteria, gym and multipurpose space.

It’s been four months of upheaval for Dare students and their teachers. While students in kindergarten through third grades attended classes in the gym, fourth and fifth grade students have settled into Bethel Manor Elementary and pre-school students have gone to Seaford Elementary.

“This has been a headache for all of us,” said board member Barbara Haywood, “but we’re beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

At the same meeting, Haywood was chosen to serve as chair of the board for the year, with Page Minter serving as vice chair. It was the first meeting for new member Cindy Kirschke.

Prior to the regular meeting, the board met in closed session with its lawyer to discuss possible litigation.

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0 #1 arleen sanborn 2012-01-10 17:21

We should take lessons from the Amish community...thi nk about it..

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