Classes canceled at Madison Elementary School due to structural corrosion
Classes are canceled this week at Madison Elementary School in Indio due to structural corrosion discovered this week in some buildings on the school campus.
District administrators tell News Channel 3 that classes for all students at Madison Elementary will resume in La Quinta beginning October 21 at the Adams Early Childhood Education Center.
Officials say classes will take place at the Adams Early Childhood Education Center for the “foreseeable future.”
The district also tells us all students and staff were notified within 24 hours of the plan.
The structural corrosion in columns at the Madison Elementary campus were discovered during recent renovation work. According to details in a letter from the structural engineer, it was explained that “significant rust” was discovered on some of the columns, possibly from daily power washing.
It was deemed that the structural integrity of those areas might be compromised in the event of an earthquake or extreme winds. The school will be working to repair the damaged areas and ensure the safety of all students.
Mary Cordova is a grandparent to two students who attend Madison Elementary.
“It was sad and depressing because they are used to that school where they are going but there is nothing we can do.” says Cordova.
Cordova says she has not yet told her grandchildren about the change, but she understands why it has to happen.
“I am happy cause it is an old school and it does need to be remodeled,” says Cordova.
DSUSD says they took many factors into consideration before closing down the school.
“As I right now we don’t know how many columns were affected or the level at which the degradation has occurred,” says Mary Perry, DSUSD Public Information Officer.
The district representative says they don’t know when classes will resume at Madison. She also tells us classes already in session at Adams Early Childhood Education Center won’t be impacted.
“But if I were looking at the children I would say hey this an adventure lets embrace it as an adventure lets do something a little bit different and get into the spirit of things and lets help everybody to make sure this is a successful year,” says Perry.
Perry added that teachers will meet at 8 a.m. on Monday and parents will meet at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to discuss the impact on families. The parent meetings will be held in Madison Elementary’s Multi-Purpose Room, a building not affected by the degradation issue.
KESQ
