A room inside Trenton Central High School. (Photo Courtesy of Shirley Turner.)
The state School Development Authority announced on July 30 that repairs to Trenton Central High School are scheduled to being in summer 2014, at the earliest.
Senator Shirley K. Turner issued a statement saying she is disappointed to hear that students will spend another year inside the school.
“After years of broken promises, several tours of the dilapidated school building, and many meetings, we learned today that the SDA has finally hired a consultant to begin surveying the structural issues plaguing Trenton Central High School. While today’s announcement is a step in the right direction, I am outraged to hear that the ‘pre-design analysis’ will take another seven months and actual repairs to the building will not begin until next summer. Unfortunately for the students, teachers, and administrators of this school, this news comes a day late and a dollar short. A delay for another year is unacceptable,” Turner said.
Turner said she organized a meeting with the school board president, superintendent, district monitor, parent groups, the state Department of Education and SDA CEO Marc Larkins in January. During the meeting, Turner was told that the leaky roof would be repaired this summer.
The school’s poor conditions also include crumbling walls, discolored drinking water, stifling heat, mold and asbestos.
“For the safety and health of our students and teachers, these repairs cannot wait a day longer,” Turner said.
