Good Afternoon SJB Families

I am writing this evening to address some rumors that have been circulating. While I generally do not respond to rumors, I do believe it is important to communicate openly with our school community and provide accurate information.

As Mrs. Ondas shared in a previous email, St. John the Baptist School is currently undergoing a major construction project to install a new boiler system. During the course of this work, concerns arose regarding the possible presence of asbestos in certain areas of the building.

Construction work involved areas previous identified as containing asbestos and additional work in the ceilings identified potential asbestos.  We immediately engaged our state-licensed environmental testing company to conduct comprehensive testing; as well as a state certified remediation company to  safely contain any affected areas, remove asbestos-containing materials where necessary, and thoroughly clean and restore those spaces in accordance with all state and federal environmental regulations. Additionally, every area of the building is being carefully inspected and tested to ensure it is safe for our students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

Our school building is quite large—consisting of essentially four levels with more than twenty rooms on each floor. Because of the size of the facility and the detailed nature of this work, the process has taken longer than anticipated, particularly due to the limited number of specialized remediation professionals available to complete this highly regulated work.

While the boiler project will not be fully completed before students return, the work in occupied areas of the building will be completed or suspended and all areas made safe for occupancy. Once school is back in session, remaining work will be completed after school hours and on weekends. This approach allows us to continue making progress on the project without delaying the start of the school year any further, ensuring the safety and continuity of our students' education.

I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused by the delayed start to the school year. Please know that this decision was not made lightly. Mrs. Ondas and I both have a professional and moral responsibility to ensure that our school is a safe environment for every child and every member of our staff. The health and well-being of our school family will always come before convenience or schedules.

As Christians, we are called to care for one another with compassion and to be faithful stewards of those entrusted to us. That responsibility guides every decision we make. We have worked diligently to balance the need for a safe learning environment with our commitment to welcoming our students back as soon as responsibly possible.

Thank you for your continued patience, understanding, trust, and prayers throughout this process. Together, with God's guidance and grace, we look forward to welcoming our students back to St. John the Baptist School to begin another wonderful year of faith, learning, and community on August 26th.

If you have any further questions or concerns regarding the construction, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

In Christ, 

Fr. Mark