The gymnasium at Wexler-Grant School is closed until further notice due to water seeping through the building’s brick.
The public school district’s facilities team discovered the seepage at the Dixwell school during the school day Monday. Brick dust was found on the walls and on the gym’s mats, which raised concerns about the fine dust causing respiratory irritation.
New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) Executive Director of Facilities Jamar Alleyne, who is contracted by the district through American Building and Maintenance Company (ABM), confirmed for the Independent Monday afternoon that the gym was closed out of precaution as his team works to test the potential dust irritant and identify a solution.
As of 4 p.m. Monday, schools spokesperson Justin Harmon said a solution has not yet been identified for what seems to be a gradual wearing down of the building brick, which has caused water seepage over time. The team is not yet sure whether the fix will just be to the interior wall or to the exterior as well.
“We want to be safe,” Harmon said. “It’s a sensible precaution to not allow use of the gym while experts look at it.”
In the meantime, Harmon confirmed that Principal David Diah has said that physical education classes will be held outdoors, weather permitting. “If it’s cold or rainy, they will utilize classrooms and other interior spaces.”
Easy decision here, very low enrollment and building falling apart — Consolidate your schools now