Hamden Middle School
Encyclopedia
Hamden Middle School is a two-year middle school
for grades 7 and 8, located at 2623 Dixwell Ave. in Hamden, Connecticut
. It is the only public middle school within the Hamden Public School District. It was the 1998-99 Connecticut School of the Year. The current principal is Daniel Levy. The assistant principals are Jessica Coffey, Grade 8 and Rhonda Jackson, Grade 7 .
found high concentrations of lead
, carcinogens and other toxins in the soil surrounding the building, as well as at the sports field across the street. It was soon revealed that the building had been constructed on the site of a previous toxic waste
disposal ground in the 1950s. This was followed by claims that the school had seen unusually high rate of death among faculty members in their 50s due to cancer
.
Crews took action to make the building as safe an environment as possible as classes commenced. However, residents voiced concern led to plans for the construction of a new building on a Dixwell Avenue site. The project began in September 2004 and the new Hamden Middle School was completed in time for the start of the 2006 school-year.
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
for grades 7 and 8, located at 2623 Dixwell Ave. in Hamden, Connecticut
Hamden, Connecticut
Hamden is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The town's nickname is "The Land of the Sleeping Giant." Hamden is home to Quinnipiac University. The population was 58,180 according to the Census Bureau's 2005 estimates...
. It is the only public middle school within the Hamden Public School District. It was the 1998-99 Connecticut School of the Year. The current principal is Daniel Levy. The assistant principals are Jessica Coffey, Grade 8 and Rhonda Jackson, Grade 7 .
Soil Contamination at Former Site
In January 2001, the school remained closed for nearly two weeks after the end of the winter vacation when the DEPDepartment of Environmental Protection
Department of Environmental Protection is a name used by several states in the United States of America for the agency charged with proposing and enforcing environmental law...
found high concentrations of lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
, carcinogens and other toxins in the soil surrounding the building, as well as at the sports field across the street. It was soon revealed that the building had been constructed on the site of a previous toxic waste
Toxic waste
Toxic waste is waste material that can cause death or injury to living creatures. It spreads quite easily and can contaminate lakes and rivers. The term is often used interchangeably with “hazardous waste”, or discarded material that can pose a long-term risk to health or environment.Toxic waste...
disposal ground in the 1950s. This was followed by claims that the school had seen unusually high rate of death among faculty members in their 50s due to cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
.
Crews took action to make the building as safe an environment as possible as classes commenced. However, residents voiced concern led to plans for the construction of a new building on a Dixwell Avenue site. The project began in September 2004 and the new Hamden Middle School was completed in time for the start of the 2006 school-year.