On Friday, Oct. 29, the New Rochelle High School welcomed back select students, faculty and staff, with a complete reopening scheduled for Monday, Nov. 1 after weeks of cleanup and restoration efforts.
When the hurricane struck in early September, the high school was among the hardest-hit in Westchester, forcing district officials to transition to remote-learning shortly after the academic year began.
At the high school, some areas of the building were flooded with as much as 10 feet of water in places.
Officials said that “the damage was extensive: losses to flooring, walls, and electrical and mechanical systems, including the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems’ pumps and motors, as well as maintenance tools and equipment.”
Custodial staff, maintenance, and facilities teams, and crews from outside companies worked around the clock officials said, to clean, repair, and rebuild.
“We salute the incredible contributions of these workers. All had a singular focus: reopen New Rochelle High School as a safe, clean, healthy, and comfortable environment conducive for learning and teaching.”
While the school will be reopening its doors to students, some areas, including the library and pool area, continue to undergo repairs.
“We are thrilled to reopen New Rochelle High School,” Schools Superintendent Jonathan Raymond said. “While we know it was disappointing to have to close the school and enact virtual learning, the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff are always our top priority.
“We are proud of how everyone rallied to ensure scholastic advancement, and we know that everyone is excited to return to our building, see each other, make new friends, and enjoy the benefits of in-person education.
“We also are happy that Isaac E. Young Middle School will again be complete, and we thank everyone across New Rochelle for their patience, support, and feedback as we progressed to these very exciting days at both schools.”
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