I.S. 201 Kids Return To Classrooms After Windows Collapse
Students at I.S. 201 Dyker Heights Intermediate School returned to their classrooms this morning after being relocated to other schools for two days straight, due to two large windows that collapsed into a classroom Monday morning.
Principal Robert Ciulla posted a letter on the school’s website today informing parents of the incident and assuring them of the building’s safety:
The safety and well-being of all students and staff members at Dyker Heights Intermediate School is our highest priority. To that end, we are informing you about an incident that took place during the school day on Monday April 20th, where a window bay fell into an occupied classroom. Fortunately, there were no students injured as a result of the window falling inward. Emergency responders were notified and the classroom remained closed for the remainder of the day.
In order to ensure all of the current windows were secured appropriately, our school was relocated Tuesday and Wednesday while the inspections took place. Our students were very cooperative and their behavior was exemplary during these past two days.
The incident occurred in a large science lab on the fourth floor at approximate 11:45am. A heroic teacher heard the wall cracking and quickly ushered students to one side of the room before the windows fell. Shaken students were told to abandon their backpacks and school supplies and make their way to the auditorium.
As we reported, parents at the middle school were furious over the lack of communication from school officials more than 24 hours after the incident.
A spokesperson from the Department of Education [DOE] said students were taken into the auditorium and that parents were informed immediately.
Initially, students were slated to return to their classrooms on Wednesday, but parents objected, saying they had still not been fully informed of the situation, and students were assigned to different schools for second day.
New York State math assessment tests that were scheduled to start on Wednesday will be taken today, Friday, April 24, and Monday, April 27, according to the schools website.
The I.S. 201 building, which was built in 1925, has been under construction for several years for leaky light fixtures, worn out exterior masonry, and other problems, according to the Schools Construction Authority.