A Decision is Made About Closing Foran High School Wednesday

MILFORD – Technicians called to Foran High School today have reported that the motor associated with the school’s air conditioning system has failed and must be replaced.

Administrators became aware of the system’s malfunction upon arriving to school Tuesday morning.

Given that Foran High School was built in the ‘70s when energy conservation was a priority, the school was designed with very few windows and even fewer that open to the outside. As a result, the reliance upon air conditioning at the school is crucial. This morning, as a result of the failed system, there was a quick build-up of condensation causing the floors throughout the building to become very slippery and hazardous. Foran’s students were released at 10:00 a.m.

It is expected that the adverse conditions existing today will continue tomorrow and, therefore, Foran High School will be closed on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2014. Decisions on school operation for the remainder of the week at Foran will be communicated as they are determined.

District facilities and maintenance officials, as well as the contractor who services the unit, described the failure as “totally unexpected.” The life expectancy of the unit in place is 25-30 years; the unit at Foran is only 8 years old and it has been routinely maintained since its installation.

“We are committed to doing everything we can to correct this problem as expeditiously as possible,” said Dr. Elizabeth Feser,Superintendent.

Foran High Principal Max Berkowitz has been working closely with central office administration in determining next steps.

Dr. Feser has communicated with the families of Foran High School, as well as the entire Foran staff, and will continue to do so in the days ahead as news becomes available.