From the Superintendent's Desk

Good morning, STMS Staff, Students and Families. 

I want to share an update with all of you regarding some work scheduled to begin on Friday afternoon, November 21st at the Middle School.

As you may recall, during excavation of an electrical conduit line in mid-September, contractors uncovered and hit an unidentified gas line that runs under the new parking lot.  This resulted in the evacuation of students and staff until PECO could properly identify and secure the line.  We are now ready to fully repair the electrical conduit, which will restore the lights on the lower parking lot.  

Following early dismissal at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 21st, Bracy Construction will begin to excavate the ground at the base of the new lot.  Once they have completed their excavation, Electri-Tech technicians will repair the electrical conduit to restore lighting to the lower lot.  They will then close the excavation area and remove barrier fencing. Throughout this process, CHA Construction Management will be on site to supervise.

During this excavation, no students or staff will be permitted on site at the middle school or the administration building.  Staff will relocate for parent conferences on Friday afternoon to the high school.  The work will continue on Saturday and Sunday, if needed.  If the repair and restoration is not complete on Sunday, the contractors will pause their work until Wednesday, November 26th, allowing school and conferences to take place at the middle school on Monday and Tuesday next week.  No students or staff are expected to be on campus on Wednesday, November 26th.

These measures are being taken to ensure the safety of the SDST community.  We thank you for your ongoing patience and flexibility as we continue through this transformational project for our middle school campus.  

Please direct any questions regarding expectations for campus access to Dr. Mangano or me.  We will do our best to answer you promptly.

Sincerely,

MaryJo Yannacone, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Dear STMS Students, Families, and Staff,

I’d like to share a brief update on the middle school construction project. The new main entrance and auditorium roof tarring have been completed. This week, roofing work is continuing in the areas over two hallways near the auditorium — one by the gymnasium and the other behind the new health classroom and fitness center.

During roof tarring, some odors may be noticeable inside or around the building depending on wind direction and location. While these odors can be unpleasant, they are non-toxic and not harmful. We continue to work with an independent air quality specialist who conducts regular testing. He was on-site today, and we expect updated results tomorrow. All previous tests have confirmed safe air quality throughout this process.

To minimize odors, we have closed hallway and classroom doors, placed ionization units and fans where needed, and adjusted the building’s ventilation to reduce outside air from the work zones. 

Earlier today, a brief odor was also detected while steel beams were being painted with a safe, non-toxic coating. That work is nearly finished.

We recognize that on-site construction can be disruptive, and we truly appreciate the patience and support of our students, staff, and families. Completing this roofing work before winter is an important step toward finishing interior construction safely and on schedule.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Dr. Mangano or me directly. Our operations and administrative teams remain on-site and will continue to monitor conditions closely.

Thank you for your continued cooperation and understanding.

Sincerely,

MaryJo Yannacone, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Dear SDST Community,

Please enjoy my October District Newsletter.

Have a terrific day!

MaryJo Yannacone, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Dear SDST Community,

Please enjoy reading this month's District Newsletter. 

Sincerely,

MaryJo Yannacone, Ed.D.

Superintendent