By Carol P. Bartold, Senior Reporter

Oct. 24, 2018: Dan Carlin, assistant superintendent for business at The Bronxville School, reported that the school expects to have all of its facilities online by Thanksgiving following the September 25 rainstorm, which resulted in flooding on the Meadow Avenue side of the building. Carlin informed the Bronxville Board of Education, at its October 18 meeting, that classrooms and offices in the A and B Wings have been back online for a week or two. Physical education offices should be ready for occupancy this week. Cardio and weight rooms are expected to be in operation next week.

The main gym and the blue gym both were the only areas in the school that tested positive for bacteria after suffering damage from outside water that encroached. Every other area of the school was cleaned immediately, Carlin noted. “We couldn’t get underneath the floors of those gyms right away because they took on outside water.” When tests could be conducted, the results showed the presence of bacteria. Both gyms are still closed. Flooding in the main gym caused the floor to cup and warp. The water damage necessitated taking up the floors in both gyms, completely cleaning out subsurfaces, and installing new surfaces. Carlin stated that repairs and reconstruction on both gyms should be finished by Thanksgiving. “We expect to be playing our first basketball games [of the season] in our own building,” he said.

Carlin anticipates the financial impact of the flood cleanup, repair, and reconstruction to be at or near zero. “We have no deductible to speak of on the flood insurance policy,” he said. He added that the school district should get all outlays back through the policy.

According to Carlin, the September flooding caused approximately $700,000 in damage to the building, significantly less than the over $20 million in damage from the 2007 storm and the over $5 million in costs from the 2011 storm. “I don’t think we’re running the risk of being uninsurable,” he said. Citing the trend of reduced damage costs over the years, he noted, “We’re moving in the right direction.”

Superintendent Dr. Roy Montesano expressed appreciation and extended his commendation to the school staff who worked overtime after the flood to prepare the school to reopen. “It did require everyone pitching in and coming together as a group,” he said. “Our students also handled it very well.”

Carlin also reported that the district has hired a general contractor for the Chambers Field and track replacement project. He said that a few playoff games will probably take place on the field, after which it will be turned over to the general contractor. The contract calls for a May 17, 2019, completion date, but, if weather permits, the district will encourage the contractor to finish sooner. 

Pictured here: The Bronxville Board of Education.

Photo by N. Bower