In the 2024-2025 school year, the English hall has flooded a total of two times already. Why does this keep happening, and what can facilities do to keep it from happening again? The first time that the English hall flooded there was approximately 1/2 inch of standing water. This time, English teacher, Betina Fuentes, says that she thinks there was about three inches of standing water in the English hall. Director of the upper school, Chad Woods, provides a short explanation as to why the English hall continues to flood.
“When there is heavy rain, the water runs down from the mountain behind the school. Sometimes limbs and debris clog the drains behind South Hall and therefore the water levels in the drain rises. This causes the English hall and the area around the hall to be flooded.”
Mrs. Fuentes, tells us how her and other the English teachers work out where your classes will be while the English hall is being taken care of.
“Mr. Woods helped us a lot with that and the History department and Mr. Pender has been wonderful in lending us their classrooms. It is hard to share space sometimes but everyone has been really flexible and understanding.”
Mr. Woods explains what preventions are taking place in the English hall in order to stop the reoccurring flooding so that it will not happen again.
“Preventative measures are taking place and facilities are checking the drains and putting sandbags in front of the doors when heavy rains are expected. Facilities do a great job at these preventative measures. There was more rain than expected this time.”
Mrs. Fuentes shares her thoughts on what work she believes needs to be done in the English hall. She believes that if this work is done that the English hall will not flood again.
“I think that there needs to be better drainage in the English hall area. Also that all the available space for the water to drain to the lake is clear so that the water can get through and so it does not get backed up like it did.”
Mr. Woods was asked how he was able to coordinate the English faculty and the History faculty so they could share their classrooms while the English hall was being fixed.
“The teachers are always disappointed to not be in their classrooms. But Darlington teachers are flexible and understanding. We have the best teachers.”