HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. -- In mid-June, a ceiling in the computer lab in the historic section of Harpers Ferry Middle School (HFMS) collapsed. There was extensive damage to the lab and some additional water damage to the first floor. An inspection by a structural engineer revealed that the common areas in the historic section of the building, including the cafeteria, auditorium, band room, and shop, were structurally sound. However, the report also showed that the structural issues that caused the ceiling to collapse were present in multiple classrooms in the historic section of the building, creating the potential for problems in the future.
In conjunction with licensed engineers, Jefferson County Schools has developed a plan to place additional safety structures in those classrooms. The unanticipated project is significant in scale and will impact seven or eight classrooms well into the first semester of the school year. To ensure a safe start to the school year with minimal adjustments to students and staff, we will temporarily place four portable units in the parking area behind the school. This will allow the entire student body to remain together with their teachers on one campus.
The units should be in place by the second week of September, impacting the first three weeks of school. To maintain a safe learning environment on a single campus, students will rotate to one-week periods of remote learning by grade level. All students will be on campus for the first day of school on August 22 to prepare for that temporary transition.
We recognize that this change in schedule creates stress for students and families; however, this is the safest and least disruptive solution available. The portable units will maintain the safe learning environment our students and staff deserve while minimizing disruption to their academic, social, and extra-curricular schedules.
HFMS staff will connect with students and families about their remote schedules. Additional information will be available during an upcoming student/family meeting on Tuesday, August 9, in the HFMS gym starting at 6:00 PM including Zoom participation. Updates will be shared on the HFMS webpage at www.jcswv.org/hfms and through the JCSWV mobile app. Thank you for your support and togetherness as we begin the new school year.