Mid Hudson Times , Wednesday , January 25 , 2017 3
Sacred Heart School building declared unsafe
School closed since January 18 , students likely to be moved to St . Joseph ’ s in New Windsor
By SHANTAL RILEY sriley @ tcnewspapers . com
The Sacred Heart School building has been condemned due to multiple code violations , the City of Newburgh Fire Department reports . School administration is looking into the possibility of moving students into another building for the remainder of the school year .
As of Tuesday , the school was in the process of finding another location to hold classes , which were suspended last week . It appeared that the former Saint Joseph ’ s School in New Windsor would be the likely site for classes , once they resume .
The fire department first received a call from school staff reporting a boiler problem on Jan . 17 . “ A flue pipe was dislodged ,” said acting city Fire Chief Terry Ahlers . “ The furnace was shut down by the staff before the fire department got there .”
Fire inspectors checked for carbon monoxide . “ We notified Central Hudson to do a ‘ red tag ,’” Ahlers said . “ They will tag an appliance as ‘ out of service ’ until repairs are made . It ’ s illegal to power it until it ’ s cleared by the fire department .”
Ahlers said others violations were found inside the school : leaking heatingsystem pipes , class rooms in areas of the basement they “ should not have been ,” he explained , and doors that didn ’ t close properly .
A serious , structural concern was caused by a crack in a wall on the first floor of the building . “ Because it ’ s a masonry wall , we worried it wasn ’ t vertical ,” said Ahlers .
“ Once we observe something we deem dangerous enough to condemn , it moves to a new level . That compels them to fix everything – even the minor violations – before they can reopen .”
Located on South Robinson Avenue , between and Ann and Washington streets , the Catholic school boasts about 200 students in grades pre-kindergarten to grade 8 .
“ First , to allay any fears , let me reassure you that Sacred Heart School will continue , although it will have to be in a new location , at least for the remainder of the academic year ,” wrote Principal Lori Ann Evanko in a message posted Monday on the school ’ s Facebook Page . “ Although there are still several
Sacred Heart School in Newburgh will likely be closed for the remainder of the academic year , former classes to be relocated , after multiple city code violations were uncovered last week .
steps that we must take before a final decision is reached , all indications as of now are that Saint Joseph ’ s School in New Windsor will be the temporary home for Sacred Heart School . As I am sure you can understand and will appreciate , we want to complete a close inspection of all areas of the school building to make certain that it is fully ready to welcome your child and provide a safe and appropriate academic setting . Those inspections and maintenance assessments have been ongoing since late last week , and are continuing this morning . At this point , the building systems at St . Joseph ’ s have been turned on and tested , inspections of the electric and plumbing have taken place , and cleaning crews have begun to prepare the building for occupancy .”
St Joseph ’ s School , located on Route 32 in New Windsor , has been closed since
2011 . School staff are “ in the process of formulating ongoing instructional opportunities so that the children ’ s education will not be impacted ,” Evanko wrote .
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