Roof leak closes gym, classrooms

School officials closed the high school gymnasium and five classrooms to repair extensive damages cause by a leaking roof

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20110328/NEWS02/703289983

Published March 28, 2011 in the Rutland Herald

Roof leak closes gym, classrooms

By Christian Avard

SPRINGFIELD — A leaking high school gymnasium roof has caused extensive damages to the gym floor and five classroom floors. As a result, school officials have closed the gym for the remainder of the school year while the affected classes have been relocated.

Springfield High School Principal Bob Thibault said the gymnasium roof has been an ongoing problem, but was effectively managed by staff and school custodians. This winter the leaking grew worse. According to Thibault, staff set up buckets to collect running water and spread tarps across the gym floor to protect to protect it from further damage. But staff found that the gym floor was warped, and the town health inspector and Springfield Fire Chief Russ Thompson were called in to investigate.

Thibault said Thompson discovered the cork layer under the gym floor was wet, warm, and worn out. Thompson determined the conditions could lead to mold problems and the floor should be replaced.

“Even though there was no visible mold, (Thompson) thought we should close the gym down for the duration of student use,” Thibault said.

The gymnasium was being used for winter physical education classes and batting practice for the baseball and softball teams. Phys-ed classes now take place in the weight room, the fitness center and outside on school grounds. The baseball and softball teams now practice at nearby Riverside Middle School.

Thibault said he has no recollection whether there were any major roof repairs prior to his tenure. He said staff repaired portions of the gym roof approximately 10 years ago but there has been no significant repair work during that time.

Additional problems also surfaced as a result of the leaking gymnasium roof. According to Thibault, the water travelled down a concrete wall and the leakage seeped through a basement hallway. The water continued to travel and came up from underneath and broke apart asbestos floor tiles in five classrooms located in the school’s basement. The classrooms were used for health, special education, band and chorus and two art classes.

As a precautionary measure, Thibault closed the classrooms to all use. Asbestos abatement began on Friday and the five affected classrooms have been temporarily relocated at the high school and at the adjoining River Valley Technical Center. Thibault said the classrooms should be back in use in a matter of weeks.

“This was all done as a precautionary measure. No mold was found in the gym and asbestos was not airborne in the classrooms. Safety is our number one concern, and the kids are not in any danger,” Thibault said.

School Board Chair Scott Adnams said the gymnasium roof was supposed to be replaced in 2005 as part of Springfield High School’s master plan. It never got replaced because voters removed roof repairs from the school budget at past town meetings. This year, voters approved a $26 million budget with approximately $140,000 budgeted for roof repairs. He was unsure what the estimated costs would be to replace the roof and retile the classroom floors.

As for Thibault, he is relieved the town passed the school budget and voters approved $140,000 for roof repairs. He said it couldn’t be more timely as high school staff prepare the necessary repair work to improve the high school building. “The capital plan needs to be taken care of now. We can’t wait or else bigger things will start build up after you go past a certain point,” Thibault said.