Dear Parents of Hance Elementary Students,
Thank you again for your understanding and cooperation with the postponed start of school at Hance Elementary. Similar to our last message, the purpose of this letter is to provide clear information about the situation, current action, timeline, and next steps. Please take some time to carefully review this entire letter.We have included detailed information for awareness of families.
In consultation with multiple outside organizations and after review of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidance, the following actions have been completed over the past few days:
- Air conditioning was shut-off.
- Dehumidifiers were placed in all classrooms.
- Each space was partitioned with plastic by PRSD facilities staff for containment prior to the removal of the chilled water line insulation. The insulation was contained, sealed and removed.
- High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) vacuum cleaners were used on all surfaces and floors. This process was completed multiple times.
- HEPA air scrubbers were also placed in rooms to purify air.
- Surfaces were wiped with a damp detergent solution in each classroom. This process was completed multiple times.
Early in the morning of Saturday, August 25th, a technician from Intertek-PSI and PRSD facility members collected new air samples from all spaces at Hance. Those samples were then analyzed at the lab. Although there is clear improvement, the follow-up test results continue to show slightly elevated levels of spores in the air. These levels vary from room-to-room. The district will secure a third-party vendor to review all information and actions-to-date. Next steps for Hance Elementary will then be determined.
Therefore, school WILL NOT start for Hance students on Monday, August 27th.
A contingency plan has been designed. School WILL begin for Hance Elementary students on Tuesday, August 28th and will be held at Eden Hall. This plan will be in place from August 28th through August 31st. It may be extended if necessary. Additional communications will be provided.
In addition to the remediation work, we have prepared a contingency plan to allow the school year to begin. We will hold an optional parent meeting on Monday, August 27th, in the Pine-Richland High School Auditorium to share detailed information about this plan. This meeting will be held from 6:30 - 7:15 p.m. A general overview follows to help families gain a big picture understanding of the plan.
Key Steps:
- No school for students on Monday, August 27th.
- Staff will report to Hance Elementary on Monday, August 27th, at 8:00 a.m.
- Staff members will receive detailed information and gather curriculum materials.
- Select materials will be shipped to Eden Hall.
- Staff members will have the majority of the day to prepare their classrooms.
- Beginning Tuesday, August 28th, Hance Elementary students will attend classes at Eden Hall. We have redesigned spaces to accommodate our classes.
- For example, grade 2 students will attend class in the auditorium space. This is a large space in which we will create five smaller classroom spaces. These spaces will have tables, materials, Interactive Display Board technology, and other resources found in a typical classroom. Privacy dividers will be used to separate the five classrooms within this space to create a smaller classroom environment.
- All support services will be available to students (e.g., nurse, cafeteria, special programs, recess, etc.).
- In addition to regular instruction conducted by the homeroom teacher, a schedule will be developed for students to also have physical education, library, computers, art and music.
- Regular bus routes for Hance will be followed. Instead of driving to Hance, buses will transport students to the Eden Hall auditorium/music entrance for arrival. Students will enter Eden Hall through a designated entrance near the auditorium wing. Many staff members will be available to welcome and guide students.
- Bus arrival will occur from 8:55 - 9:15 a.m.
- Parent drop-off and kindergarten drop-off / pick-up will occur at the side entrance via the main entrance to Eden Hall from Bakerstown Road (see picture below).
- A.M. drop-off should also occur from 8:55 - 9:15 a.m.
- A.M. kindergarten parents should pick-up from 11:50 - 12:00 p.m.
- P.M. kindergarten parents should drop-off from 1:00 - 1:10 p.m.
- P.M. pick-up should occur from 3:40 - 4:00 p.m.
