HANCOCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - SEWER LEAK UPDATES
5:00 p.m.
What are the District’s next steps?
- The sewer leak at the elementary school has been identified to be a contained environmental disturbance that will require immediate remediation and repair. The District is currently working closely with our architect/engineer/environmental design team to formulate a comprehensive corrective action approach moving forward into the immediate future. The New York State Education Department and the Delaware County Department have been notified and have confirmed the District’s analyses.
- The elementary school instructional program will be remote through Thursday, October 6.
- On Friday, October 7, the District will reevaluate the status of the sewer leak and notify all stakeholders as to our next steps.
- The Hancock Elementary School building is closed until further notice.
12:45 p.m.
What is the cause and nature of the sewer leak at Hancock Elementary School?
- The sewer leak was identified at approximately 3:45pm on Thursday, September 29, by a
maintenance worker at Hancock Elementary School, in a crawlspace immediately underneath the elementary school building. To the best of our knowledge, the leak is encapsulated and contained. The leak is the direct result of a cracked sewer pipe. The elementary school building was evacuated and is currently closed pending further evaluation. - The New York State Education Department and the Delaware County Department of Health were immediately contacted, and they are assisting the District through the evaluation and planning processes. We have been advised the sewer leak does not pose a threat to the environment.
- HCSD’s Architecture/Engineering firm has been contacted, as have several other technical consultants, to assist with the evaluation and cleanup processes.
What has been the District’s response to this incident?
- Upon confirmation of the sewer leak on September 29, the elementary school building was immediately evacuated and closed pending further evaluation. Furthermore, the New York State Education Department and the Delaware County Department of Health, as have a number of technical consultants, were quickly contacted so as to advise the District through the initial evaluation phase of this incident. The District’s communications team has been actively sharing updates with all internal and external stakeholders.
- We have been advised the sewer leak is encapsulated and contained and does not pose an environmental threat to the areas surrounding Hancock Elementary School.
- Effective Friday, September 30, and continuing until further notice, Hancock Elementary School will be employing a remote instructional model.
What are the District’s next steps?
- Working in concert with District Officials, NYSED, and the Delaware County Department of Health, HCSD’s Architect/Engineering team will closely study and examine the sewer leak to best provide technical assistance in support of planning a safe, orderly, and timely pathway forward.
- The HCSD Elementary School Building is closed until further notice.
- All Pre-K-4 faculty, staff, and students will be on a remote instructional model until otherwise notified. Contingency plans are being developed to ensure uninterrupted program provision in the event of a long-term disruption.
Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of all our constituents are our top concerns. District officials will continue to update all stakeholders in a timely fashion. For updates, please check Hancock CSD’s website and social-media pages (Facebook, Twitter).
10:30 a.m.
The transition to remote elementary school instruction has been seamless. Thank you for your ongoing cooperation and support! We will continue to update everyone on the status of the elementary school building.
9:00 a.m.
The District's architect and engineering team is on site undertaking a comprehensive review of the sewer leak at the elementary school. We hope to form a definitive pathway forward prior to the end of the day today.
6:45 a.m.
Thank you all for demonstrating tremendous patience and understanding as the Hancock Central School District diligently works to assess the extent of the cleanup of a sewage leak underneath our elementary school building. Although the leak is contained and encapsulated, the elementary school building is closed until further notice. We will keep you updated throughout the course of the day.
~ Terrance P. Dougherty, Superintendent of Schools
Posted 9/30/2022 ... Updated throughout 9/30/2022