Dear Parish of St. Matthew and St. Matthew’s Parish School Community,
The Parish of St. Matthew and St. Matthew’s Parish School have been working together since January 7th, making every effort to reopen the campus safely and bring our community together again for the worship, educational instruction, ministry activities, outreach, and fellowship that define us. The Parish and School have begun the complex process to recover and rebuild our beautiful campus with the formation of a Return to Bienveneda Task Force to steer us safely through the myriad steps ahead. Members from both the Parish and School governing bodies comprise this Task Force, which will be responsible for the decision-making and oversight of all campus recovery efforts. They include:
- Bruce A. Freeman, Rector
- Alley Michaelson ‘02, Head of School
- Darren Seidel, Vestry Senior Warden
- Andrew Devkar, Chair of the Board of Trustees
- Terry Bird, Vestry Member, Alumni Parent, Current Student Grandparent (Chair of Return to Bienveneda Task Force)
- Mary Ellen Kanoff, Vestry Chancellor, Alumni Parent
- Lawry Meister, Former Vestry Senior Warden, Alumni Parent, Former Board of Trustees Member
- Ryan Harter ‘90, Board of Trustees Member, Chair of Facilities Committee
- Kevin O’Malley, Board of Trustees Member, Chair of Finance Committee
- Alexander Thain, Board of Trustees Member, Former Co-Chair of the Board of Trustees
The Task Force has been hard at work to ensure that we can rebuild safely and efficiently for our return to Bienveneda. As you know, there has been damage to our campus – several structures have been totally destroyed while others have suffered extensive smoke and ash damage and will require remediation and cleaning. Several of our beloved trees have also been lost. However, we are grateful that it was not a total loss and many of our beloved buildings on campus still remain. Here is a summary of our campus status:
- Total loss structures: Rectory and Associate Rectory Homes, Frost Administration Building, 200 (Kindergarten) Building, 300 (Lower School & Library) Building
- The School also owns 1023 Bienveneda and 1017 Bienveneda, both of which were rental properties and are deemed total losses
- Partially damaged structures: 400 Middle School Building
- Still standing structures: Church, Parish Center, Founder’s Hall, Mill Building, Pool Structures, 1026 Bienveneda (Young Adult Residency Home), 1027 Bienveneda (Head of School Home), 500 Middle School Science/PIRL Building, 600 Middle School Building and Athletic Offices, Sprague Gymnasium, Early Childhood Center (partial playground damage)
The Church and School plan to work together and share space, so that both can resume as quickly as it is deemed safe. The School is targeting a Fall 2026 return to campus, but will return earlier if deemed safe to do so.
Recovery efforts will proceed in two phases. The first phase is targeted for completion in September 2025 and will involve:
- Securing and protecting the campus during recovery efforts (complete)
- Clearance of the campus and removal of all hazardous materials (partially complete)
- The campus has already passed EPA Phase 1, removal of all toxic debris
- We are currently engaged with the Army Corps of Engineers and private debris removal companies to ensure all debris is removed safely and swiftly
- Testing of the campus by certified hygienists to ensure that proper and required standards and guidelines are established for the removal of debris and remediation efforts in the Church and School structures
- Full remediation of all existing structures
- Testing of post remediation efforts to ensure our parishioners and school families that it is safe for them to return to St. Matthew’s
This first phase will be headed by a project manager with extensive experience in construction management, Gardiner & Theobold (G&T). G&T’s efforts will be headed by Andrew Demming and Josh McCrow, both senior members of G&T’s national services. Andrew has been a parishioner and school parent. G&T will be responsible for identifying and vetting top flight debris clearance, hygienist, and remediation candidates for the Task Force. With G&T’s help, the Task Force will make every effort to return parishioners and School members to St. Matthew’s as soon as possible.
The second phase of our recovery efforts will involve comprehensive planning and preparation for the ultimate rebuild of our School and Parish. Our immediate goal is to return to our campus as soon as possible, even if it means using temporary structures, always guided by safety as our top priority.
As previously reported, Sill Adjusting Group, a national public adjuster, has been engaged to work closely with St. Matthew’s insurance carrier, The Church Insurance Company of Vermont. Sill and the Task Force have been coordinating St. Matthew’s claims and carrier payments. With Sill’s help, we will recover all available insurance coverage for the Parish and School.
Though the campus remains closed, we understand how important it is for so many to visit the Columbarium and honor their loved ones. We can assure you that we will share procedures for visitation as soon as regulations allow.
We will continue to send updates to you regularly on ongoing recovery efforts. The St. Matthew’s community may be farther away from each other in distance, but we are together in spirit. Please reach out to us to share your thoughts, concerns or comments via info@stmatthewsschool.com to keep us mindful of your perspectives on our work. This recovery will be a collective effort.
Each of the members of the Task Force understands the enormity of the devastation that our Parish and School have suffered. More importantly, each member shares the pain that this devastation has brought to our personal lives and to the spirit and life of our community, Parish, and School. With your support and God’s blessing, we will remain committed to a safe and expeditious recovery for St. Matthew’s.
In Partnership,
The Return to Bienveneda Task Force
