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Hall School Will Reopen for Classes on October 9

Submitted by hooses on Fri, 10/05/2012 - 13:36
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Classes will resume at Hall Elementary School on October 9.  The area of the building affected by a September 17 electrical fire has been sealed off completely and it will be inaccessible to students and staff until abatement work is finished.

Environmental Safety and Hygiene Associates, an independent environmental consulting firm hired by the Portland Public Schools, has conducted air quality tests throughout the rest of the building.  The most recent tests show airborne fungal spore (mold) concentrations at acceptable levels and as expected for a building of Hall School’s age and type of construction. See a copy of the consultant’s report.  Parents are invited to tour the school on Monday, October 8 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The consultant will be available to answer questions.

Eight classrooms and an office are in the corridor that has been blocked off.   Teachers displaced from this section of the building will utilize alternative learning spaces within the building (for example, the art room and library) as temporary classrooms during the week of October 9.

The bus routes in effect before September 17 will resume on October 9.  Students who ride the bus should arrive at their regular stops at the normal time.  Teachers will greet students in the playground drop-off area at the school and escort them to their classrooms.

The abatement work in the affected corridor is expected to be finished by October 15.  At that time, six additional classrooms will be opened.  The remaining area, which includes classrooms 18 and 20 and the office in room 22c, will be completely rebuilt.  That work is expected to be done by the end of 2012.  Portland Public Schools will conduct periodic testing of the school to monitor environmental conditions over time.

“Hall School students, staff and parents have shown amazing resilience through this difficult period,” said Portland Superintendent Emmanuel Caulk.  “Now that the building has been cleared for reoccupancy, we are eager for them to return to their school home.”