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Port Chester Middle School Remains Closed: Repairs Could Cost $400,000

This story has been updated.

Workers outside the Board of Education and District office entrance of Port Chester-Rye Union Free District on Tuesday, Oct. 31. Ongoing emergency repairs have kept Port Chester Middle School closed to students since Friday, Oct. 27.

Workers outside the Board of Education and District office entrance of Port Chester-Rye Union Free District on Tuesday, Oct. 31. Ongoing emergency repairs have kept Port Chester Middle School closed to students since Friday, Oct. 27.

Photo Credit: Jon Craig
A bulldozer and temporary orange fences surround Port Chester Middle School and the Port Chester-Rye Union Free School District offices on Tuesday Oct. 31 after a concrete panel collapsed smashing windows at the school on Oct. 26, prompting repairs.

A bulldozer and temporary orange fences surround Port Chester Middle School and the Port Chester-Rye Union Free School District offices on Tuesday Oct. 31 after a concrete panel collapsed smashing windows at the school on Oct. 26, prompting repairs.

Photo Credit: Jon Craig
Port Chester Middle School

Port Chester Middle School

Photo Credit: Google Maps street view

Port Chester Middle School remained closed for a fifth consecutive school day on Thursday Nov. 2, officials said, as repairs continue.

The adjoining District Offices for the Port Chester-Rye Union Free School District reopened on Wednesday, they said, following an accident on Thursday, Oct. 26.

Last Thursday evening, a mounting for a decorative concrete panel failed, causing the panel to fall to the ground and damage a classroom’s windows, according to Caryn Furst, a school district spokeswoman. 

There were no injuries and school was not in session at the time, Furst said.

The decision to close school shall be made on a day-to-day basis as this relies on how quickly emergency measures can be put into place, Furst said.

Emergency measures to ensure school can safely open may cost upwards of $400,000, Furst said. 

The school building has about 90 of these panels installed and in light of the failure of the one panel, the school will be closed until emergency measures can be instituted. These measures include the installing of fencing around all areas where panels are present, installing safety bridges over entry ways, and installing jacks to support all of the remaining panels, Furst said.

The Board of Education will be examining several options for a permanent solution after they are developed and presented by the architects and engineers.

 "We do not yet have projected costs for a permanent solution," Furst said on Monday.

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