Winslow interim superintendent reports major middle school water damage; board approves Oct. 13 virtual half-day for middle school to make up lost time

Interim Superintendent Mark Pease told the Winslow Township Board of Education on Oct. 8 that significant water damage at the middle school required a three-day shutdown and will need phased repairs, and that the district is working with contractors and its insurer to assess costs.

Pease said crews completed initial water extraction and demolition and entered a second phase of additional demolition to address floor damage. "We are in basically what we're calling phase two," he said, and added that there are "no definite timelines" because older buildings can reveal additional problems once work begins. Pease said the district is working to find contractors that deliver the quickest schedule at a cost that will not unduly increase insurance premiums.

The superintendent gave a preliminary estimate that insurance could cover "1 to 2 million dollars worth of damage," but he stressed the figure is not final. Pease also told the board that devices and office equipment appeared spared: "There hasn't been any definite timelines. At this time, there were no damage to the electronics in our building. There were no Chromebooks damaged. All of our copiers seemed to be elevated enough not to be impacted." (Attributions reflect Pease's remarks during the Oct. 8 update.)

State education officials denied the district's request for a waiver to avoid making up missed instructional time, Pease said, so the district presented options for where to place three makeup days in the calendar. The board approved one makeup option at the meeting: a half-day virtual session for middle school students on Oct. 13. Ms. Peterson moved to approve the Oct. 13 virtual half-day; the motion carried on a roll-call vote.

Pease said the district will continue to communicate with parents, staff and contractors as the repair schedule becomes clearer and will aim to prioritize safety while minimizing cost. He told board members he is soliciting feedback from parents and teachers about the best dates to make up the remaining two days and will report back when the plan is finalized.

Next steps: the district will continue remediation work, await the insurance settlement and finalize dates for the remaining makeup days after consulting stakeholders and contractors. The board approved the Oct. 13 half-day for the middle school and will monitor repair progress and related budget impacts at future meetings.