Middle School Gym, Cafeteria to Re-Open Wednesday

Normal activities will resume Wednesday in the gymnasium and cafeteria at Ledyard Middle School after a roof inspection by the engineering firm DiCesare-Bentley produced a clean bill of health Tuesday.

“I am very pleased to let you know that I received a positive report from the structural engineer the district hired to inspect the middle school gym and cafeteria,” schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Graner said in a note to parents Tuesday afternoon.

“Following a thorough inspection of the facility, the engineer reported this afternoon that he found no evidence of any structural problems. Therefore, beginning Wednesday morning the gym and cafeteria will be re-opened.

The gym and cafeteria were closed to students and staff on Friday after a teacher reported hearing a loud noise coming from the gymnasium ceiling.  Snow on flat roofs – school gymnasiums in particular – have been a concern since record snowfall was recorded in January. 

School and town maintenance officials inspected the roof and found no structural damage. But school Principal Joe Chella said an outside firm was called in to “err on the side of caution.”

In the meantime, students have been eating lunch at their desks and no physical education classes have been conducted in the gym.  

“I want to express my thanks to the students, staff, and parents of Ledyard Middle School for the flexibility they demonstrated while we dealt with this concern,” Graner wrote.