JH/HS Band & Music Room Update

One last update from New London tonight - and this one is a little different from the first-day celebrations we've been sharing today.

As I hate to take away from the positive energy on this thread I want to be transparent with our community on our Music/Band Room in the Jr.Sr. High School. We received environmental testing results today related to an area of our JH/HS building. We have spent the afternoon and evening working through those results, determining next steps, and communicating directly with the staff and families most immediately affected. We also want to make sure our broader New London community has the same information.

Following the recent storm, HVAC issues and increased humidity created moisture concerns in portions of the building. As we monitored those areas, we noticed mold growth in a few locations and immediately began cleaning and mitigation efforts. We also brought in an environmental testing professional to evaluate the affected spaces and collected samples for additional testing.

The results we received today indicate that our band/music room needs additional attention and re-cleaning. The moisture issue in the space has been addressed, and we are continuing to run dehumidifiers and increase fresh-air circulation through our HVAC system. Tomorrow, the room will receive an additional deep cleaning and mitigation.

We have also made the decision to take an additional step: students and staff will not return to the band/music room until the space has been re-tested. In the meantime, band and music classes will continue in the auditorium space.

We recognize that closing a classroom creates an inconvenience, but we would rather take the additional time, complete the additional cleaning and testing, and be confident in the space before returning students and staff to it.

We had a lot to celebrate on our first day today, and we still do. Taking care of our students and staff also means being transparent when something needs our attention and taking the time to address it thoroughly. Thank you to our staff, students, and families for your flexibility and understanding. We will continue to share updates as we receive additional information.

-Jamie Cranston
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Finishing up my day and wanted to take a minute to share a little of what I saw across New London today. There was a happy buzz in so many places. Kids were reconnecting with friends, classrooms were getting settled in, and everywhere I went I saw people working to make the first day a good one for our students. And getting to today took a lot of people.

Over the last week, teachers have pulled weeds, custodians have stepped into other buildings, and students have rolled up their sleeves to help us continue cleaning up after so much rain and the storm. People worked through the weekend on our grounds, checked on buildings, and took care of those last-minute things that needed to happen before students walked through the doors.

Today, I watched cooks, bus drivers, teachers, associates, custodians, office staff, administrators, and so many others jump in. Some of our staff are brand new to New London and were diving in for the first time. Others were right beside them answering questions, mentoring, and helping them find their way. I even saw staff with a few free minutes walking the hallways asking, “Where do you need me?” (That may have been one of my favorite parts of today.)

There are also so many students, families, volunteers, and community members who have helped our schools over these last couple of weeks. Some of that work has been very visible, and some of it has happened quietly behind the scenes. Thank you for helping. Thank you for your support. We can't be a great school without all of these great people supporting us.

There are still things to finish, things to work on, and I’m sure not every moment of today went perfectly. But as I finish my first first-day-of-school in New London, I’m leaving grateful for what I saw and for the people who worked so hard to get us here. Thank you, New London - for showing up for our schools, for one another, and most importantly, for our kids.

-Jamie Cranston ... See MoreSee Less