Relocated Palmer Park students get later start time
School district officials in Detroit on Friday were making individual phone calls to Palmer Park Preparatory Academy parents to inform them that the more than 500 students will have later start and dismissal times on Monday when they resume school at the Detroit International Academy building.
Palmer Park Preparatory Academy temporarily closed Monday amid concerns about the building’s condition, including a leaking roof and possible mold, officials at Detroit Public Schools Community District said.
“The decision for this temporary transition was made by Superintendent Nikolai Vitti, Palmer Park Academy teachers and faculty due to the immediate repairs needed for the building,” a statement on the district’s website said.
The DIA, located at 9026 Woodward Ave., is where the Palmer Park students will finish out the school year. School will begin Monday at 9:20 a.m. and dismiss at 4:30 p.m. On Wednesday early release school will dismiss at 3:30 p.m. The previous start time was 9 a.m.
A designated entrance and exit has been assigned for Palmer Park students at the DIA, school officials said. All Palmer Parks students should enter and exit through Door No. 15, located on Josephine Street.
Transportation accommodations were also made. Students serviced by the Office of Transportation will continue to receive services. Children who walked to school or were dropped off by parents at the school will be transported by a shuttle bus that will arrive at Palmer Park on Pickford Avenue at 8:45 a.m. and leave at 9 a.m.
Students will be dropped off at the same location where they were picked up, school officials said.
Over the weekend, environmental cleanup crews started addressing water damage and testing for harmful mold at the school, which serves more than 500 students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
Detroit school district spokeswoman Chrystal Wilson said test reports for the mold were expected Friday but may not be released until early next week.
The roof is expected to be fixed in time for the fall semester, but the cleanup also includes replacing ceiling tiles, treating water-damaged areas and relocating students in damaged classrooms, according to the district.
JChambers@detroitnews.com