SHARE

Webster Students Displaced In New Rochelle Following Ceiling Collapse

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – With summer vacation coming to a quick close and the academic year just days away, students at the Daniel Webster Elementary School in New Rochelle will be attending a different building for their first two semesters as the district deals with infrastructure problems.

The Daniel Webster Elementary School in New Rochelle may not be ready to open the school year safely.

The Daniel Webster Elementary School in New Rochelle may not be ready to open the school year safely.

Photo Credit: File

Following the collapse of a portion of ceiling in the Webster Elementary last month, New Rochelle school officials have reached an agreement with the Holy Family Elementary School at 100 Mount Joy Place – less than a mile away from Webster – that will see teachers holding class there to begin the year.

According to Superintendent Brian Osborne, “we anticipate signing a lease agreement within the next couple of days that will run through Dec. 31. It is our intention to have all of our children back attending Daniel Webster Elementary by Jan. 4 (following Winter Break).”

Osborne noted that with the venue change, interested parents will have the opportunity to visit the temporary location early in the school year.

“This temporary site was selected in conjunction with our architects, engineers, construction managers and other professionals for its proximity to Webster Elementary, the condition of the building and our ability to bring the facility up to current New York State Education Department health and safety standards by the opening of school,” he added.

While students are attending Holy Family, they will adhere to their normal Webster schedule, with school starting at 8:25 a.m. and dismissal at 3:15 p.m. Bus service will remain unchanged, though any student that lives a mile and a half from the new location will now be eligible. Osborne said that Principal Melissa Passarelli will touch base with parents regarding where “children should be dropped off, picked up and other relevant contact information for the school and room locations.”

The afterschool YMCA program that is normally held at Webster will continue in the new wing of the school that has already been deemed safe for inhabitation. There will be transportation from Holy Family to Webster immediately after school.

The examination into Webster’s infrastructure and the rest of the district’s buildings is ongoing. Any questions can be directed to WebsterQA@nredlearn.org, with answers posted on the district website.

to follow Daily Voice New Rochelle and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE