Middle School Could Reopen in Late November

Months after mold was discovered in the building, administrators are targeting a late-November date for Manchester Township Middle School to reopen. 

"I know that parents, students and staff are all wondering about the return to the building, and I received a comment in that regard," Superintendent of Schools David Trethaway writes in a recent blog post on the district's website. "I hesitated to give a date since there were so many variables such as delivery of supplies and availability of cabinetry. However now I believe it is safe to say that we should be preparing to open the Middle School sometime near the end of November."

Trethaway said that he recently walked through parts of the school, which has been closed for repair since mold was discovered in August, and much of the restoration has been completed.

"The only remaining area left to finish is the gymnasium. Once that is finished being cleaned, the walls are scheduled to be painted and the bid for the new floor should be accepted at the Board of Education meeting," he writes.

The board will meet Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the Ridgeway Elementary School media center. 

The specifications for a wood gym floor, which will replace carpeting in that space, have been advertised for bid and Business Administrator Craig Lorentzen has met with six flooring companies to review those plans, Trethaway said earlier in October.

Most of the first floor has been completely rebuilt, Trethaway said, and mold testing results for the first floor should be completed this week.

It was announced in September that the district's insurance company attributed the mold growth to older improperly functioning equipment. As such, the company will cover the cost of the restoration, though it is still unclear what the project's final cost will be. The district's insurance policy has a $75,000 deductible, according to Lorentzen.

Administrators will begin to discuss plans to transition students from a split session schedule at Manchester Township High School back to their home building. An open house for parents and students to become familiar with the school will be scheduled, Trethaway said.