July 30, 2012
The Homer School District 33C Board of Education called a special meeting Monday, July 16, to address plans to repair wind damage done to Butler School during a June storm.
The school sustained damage Friday, June 29, during an intense storm, according to John Lavelle, assistant superintendent for business services.
Lavelle said roughly half of the 6,200-square-foot gymnasium roof was torn off of the school. The storm also knocked down a communications antenna, the debris of which landed on the eastern academic wing of the school, damaging the roof, including five of the trusses, he said. Damage was also reportedly done to the masonry of the school, flagpole, fencing and interior areas of the school because of the roof damage. Water damaged the ceiling tiles in certain areas, but the floors were fine, Lavelle added.
Lavelle said the board invoked an emergency stipulation to allow the district to receive quotes on the repair work and move faster, without having to endure the normal process for contracting work like this.
"Just in the interest of time, getting it up and open for school," he explained.
The ceiling was temporarily sealed to keep the inside of the school dry, but there's a lot of work to be done, Lavelle said. The communications antenna will likely cost "in excess of $10,000" to replace, but estimates for other repairs are uncertain, he said.
"There's been a structural engineer involved to figure out how to handle the trusses," he said.
Lavelle estimated the gym roof will be repaired within a couple of weeks, but the school may have to open in the fall without the two classrooms damaged in the eastern wing, which will likely take longer to repair, he said. The damage should not, however, delay the start of school, he said.
Schilling School also received minor roof damage during the storm, he added.
The board also awarded a bid at the special meeting to Anchor Mechanical to upgrade the kitchen ventilation systems at Homer Jr. High, Hadley Middle, Schilling and Goodings Grove schools, Lavelle said. The company will be paid $49,786 to do the work, which is being done to meet the requirement set by the fire district for the lunch program areas, Lavelle said.
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