Community Corner

DMS Leaking Roof Outcry Prompts Public Info Session

Deans Mill School students and staff have worked around the leaks sorting up all over the school. After numerous complaints, an informational meeting has been set for DMS families.

Newly elected Stonington Board of Education chairman Frank Todisco told The Westerly Sun in November that on a visit to Deans Mill School he found a makeshift setup in the schools cafeteria created to catch water leaking into the school from a leaking roof. Todisco told The Sun students shouldn’t have to “eat lunch like that.”

This week, Stonington Patch heard from DMS educators concerned that the leaky roof was getting worse and hoped the problem would get the attention it deserved, ideally in the form of funds earmarked for repairs.

In an email to Patch, a staff member wrote that, “For years now, leaks have been 'managed' with makeshift tenting structures consisting of a square piece of white material, coned, with a clear tube drain water (often noted to be black in color) into large buckets.

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“In our library, these leaks have become so significant, that the rugs are chronically damp and very likely harboring mold.  Affected areas are often barricaded from use and several books & bookcases have been damaged/destroyed.

“In the cafeteria, the tent-like 'bladders' are often overflowing.  Dark, particulate water actively pours onto the floor, making it extremely slippery.  All the while our children are seated underneath this roof eating their lunches. 

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“With recent rainfall, the roof leaks have been particularly bad.  Our principal has repeatedly reached out with his concerns about (drying) affected areas,” the educator wrote.

Following a Patch call seeking answers, we received a message that an “information session” has been planned to address the leaking roof.

A flyer provided to Deans Mill staff and families reads, “Over the last few days, many parents have expressed an interest in learning more about the Deans Mill School roof, including: roof layout, history of repair/replacement, current condition, plans for the future.

In order to provide the most accurate and complete information available, we have arranged for an information session…” where Stonington schools Superintendent Van Riley, Todisco, district operations manager Bill King and DMS Principal Doug Hammel would be on hand to answer questions and provide updates.

The session is slated for Tuesday, Jan. 21 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the school’s library/media center, which happens to be one of the areas in t he school affected by the leaks. 

Here’s a description of the attached images provided by DMS staff taken Wednesday Jan. 15 at 3 p.m. in DMS cafeteria, library, classrooms and gymnasium:

“The so-called tenting structures are actively 'collecting' most leaks and depositing into large buckets via long transparent tubes, some of the leaks are happening in random places, too and depositing on the floor. The final two images show standing water on part of the rooftop and, from my opinion, what looked to be people 'wrapping' the cafeterias exterior skylights with clear plastic sheeting secured with duck tape...a 'Band-Aid' of sorts.”

 

 

 

 


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