Greenwich High School Students: Don't Start Those Engines

The list of complications caused by the discovery of contaminated soil at the auditorium construction site at Greenwich High School has grown longer.

High school seniors who were expecting to exercise student parking privileges come Sept. 1 should plan on taking the bus - or walking, which ever is easier. School district officials announced late Tuesday afternoon that all student parking has been suspended until further notice. The parking lot where a majority of staff and students park has been quarantined by local, state and federal officials after the discovery in July of PCBS, metals and other contaminants were found in excavated dirt. Subsequent tests also revealed the presence of contaminants in adjacent athletic fields - which also have been deemed off-limits.

All of the areas are cordoned off by fences.

The decision to limit parking access on the Hillside Road campus was announced in a letter e-mailed late Tuesday afternoon to parents by school headmaster Chris Winters. (Please see attached document.)

In his letter, Winters said, "At the GHS--MISA Building Committee meeting (Tuesday) morning, it was confirmed that of dirt in the west (back) parking lot and the restoration of that lot for use will take at least 3 ‐ 4 weeks."

Winters added, "Therefore, student parking will not be permitted until further notice. We are working on plans to ensure bus capacity and to enhance traffic control measures."

The district's director of school safety services, Tom Bobkowski, said, "We’re looking at the added ridership that will be on some of the buses, and will make extra accommodations." He said Greenwich Police will help control and direct the anticipated extra traffic from parents dropping off students. He will be continuing to meet with town officials including Parking Services staff to finalize plans before the Sept. 1 start of classes.

Bobkowski also said that adjacent institutions including churches have been advised of the situation and that student parking will not be allowed. "Students need to know that parking on private property will be prohibited. (Cars) will be ticketed and towed at the (car) owner's expense," Bobkowski explained.

As it stands, about 423 spaces are needed for school personnel who will be allowed to park in the north and south lots of the school as well as along Hillside Road. Depending upon mandates by environmental officials, some space in the rear lot may be opened for parking as the cleanup progresses, Bobkowski said.

Meanwhile, work to remove the piles of contaminated soil was expected to begin Wednesday, Bobkowski said. In his letter, Winters said that more test results and information on the situation, should be released by the end of the week.