Upper Dublin Schools Superintendent Updates Community On Ida-Related Recovery Efforts

UPPER DUBLIN, PA — School District officials are updating the community on recovery efforts at two local school buildings damaged by a tornado spawned by Hurricane Ida in early September.

Upper Dublin School District Superintendent Steve Yanni on Tuesday put out a community update regarding the ongoing work at Fort Washington Elementary School and Upper Dublin High School, both of which sustained damage on Sept. 1 when Hurricane Ida came through the region.

Yanni said township officials recently toured the elementary school and the district is awaiting their authorization before occupying part of the damaged building.

Air quality tests for the most part have been completed at the school, he said, with one area of carpeting yet to be removed and another area of carpeting still in need of cleaning. Additional air quality testing will be done once that remaining work is complete.

Yanni said the district hopes to have multiple grade levels returning to Fort Washington Elementary School by the end of January, and if the timeline changes, "we will communicate as soon as possible.

"Until there is an official communication identifying grade levels and a date for return, anything you hear is conjecture or worse, rumors!," Yanni wrote in his communication.

One rumor Yanni debunked that has apparently been circulating throughout the community is that Fort Washington Elementary School is going to be torn down.

"That is simply not true!" Yanni wrote.

Fort Washington Elementary students are currently occupying classroom space at the district's other elementary schools.

As for ongoing remediation work at the high school, Yanni said crews have since installed a temporary roof over the natatorium, and that the interior of the building is still being evaluated for safety, including air quality and lighting.

"Once this evaluation is completed (the date is still to be determined), we will articulate a plan and timeline for when the community can expect the pool to be open," Yanni added.

Upper Dublin Township was one of the hardest hit communities in Montgomery County when a strong tornado spawned by Hurricane Ida rolled through the region.

In addition to the damage to the two school buildings, there was also extensive damage to the township building as well as damage to individual homes.