Parents Stress Concerns Over Current State of Mary Devine Elementary

Parents and staff showed up in moderate numbers to Tuesday evening’s Bristol Township School Board meeting to stress concerns about the temporary Mary Devine Elementary School site at the Ben Franklin School along Mill Creek Road.

The Bristol Township School District’s Board of School Directors Planning Session brought out parents and staff with all ranges of complaints- from poor security to potential mold and poor air quality.

The current Mill Creek Road location, which will be the school’s home for the next two years, is just one process among many as Bristol Township constructs and opens three brand new elementary schools. In the mind of some parents, those who attend Mary Devine have received the short end of the stick.

According to Solicitor David Truelove, the final approval for land development has been in the township’s hands for two months; the township will review the plans including a resolution made on the sewer issue this upcoming Thursday.

While the school district awaits the approval and the beginning of construction on the new Mary Devine school, parents and staff remain upset about the temporary location’s current ‘debilitating’ state.

Questions of unlocked doors and poor security were brought up by one parent, while a Mary Devine administrator insisted that heightened security issues, while beneficial, have made the process of working there extremely difficult.

She remarked that administrators have been forced to walk out of the back of the building (being used by school district administration), outside to the front and forced to ring the buzzer  to have access to the Mary Devine section.

While board members applauded her remarks, a commotion drew out over whether leaving all doors locked (to further heighten security), like one parent suggested, would cause an extreme fire hazard as well as legality issue.

Another parent, whose daughter has visited the nurse an estimated 12 times since September 18 for severe migraines, claims that his daughters’ possible allergy to mold may be what is making her sick. In the past numerous ceiling tiles from the building’s lower level have had to be replaced, according to Superintendent Dr. Same Lee because of water, not necessarily mold.

Superintendent Dr. Sam Lee further remarked Tuesday evening that this is the first he is hearing about medical issues related to the state of the building, but he has proposed further investigation go into an air quality study.

While parents seem to be rather upset about the temporary location’s poor quality, district officials said it will remain the school community’s home for the next two years.