Schools
Boston Cares Cancels Hennigan Orchard Restoration as Safety Precaution
Due to repainting at the Hennigan Elementary School, volunteer organizers have decided to postpone the restoration of an orchard on the building's grounds to prevent contamination by PCB, a toxic compound.
The restoration of the orchard at the will have to wait, according to volunteer organizers. The discovery of PCB, a toxic chemical, in the building's paint has forced BPS officials to keep the school closed for a few more days of summer vacation to finish maintenance.
In a Sept. 1 letter to parents, Superintendent Carol R. Johnson announced that the Hennigan's first day of school would be moved from tomorrow to Sept. 12 due to "repairs and repainting."
In addition to school delays, Boston Cares, the organizer of the orchard restoration, has chosen to postpone the outdoor project as a safety precaution. Although levels of PCB have been found in the paint, traces of the chemical can be transmitted through the air.
Find out what's happening in Jamaica Plainfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Improvements to the orchard will be rescheduled later this fall, but no official dates have been set. Instead of participating in the final restoration session, which was scheduled for this Sunday, Boston Cares organizers encourage volunteers to serve in other projects in remembrance of the tenth year anniversary of 9/11.