Date: Fri 21-Mar-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

council-school-HOM-rood

Full Text:

Financing Question Delays School Roof Repair Project Again

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

A year ago, the Legislative Council voted to fund the $630,000 roof

replacement at Head O' Meadow Elementary School. Members met Wednesday to

approve the project's financing plan but hit a road block when they were

unable to decide whether to finance the project through notes or bonds.

The issue was sent to the council's finance committee, and the roof work will

not be voted on again until next month. The work is expected to begin this

summer.

According to HOM Principal Bill Bircher, there are 17 major leaks in the

school's roof, with the majority of the water dripping into the fourth- and

fifth-grade wing and residual leaking in the cafetorium. Several buckets have

been set up to catch the water, but some drops have made their way to the

floor and onto books and other school material.

Water has been finding its way into the Boggs Hill School for nearly two

years, but school officials were forced to hold off on the roof work until the

roof reached its 20th birthday. According to School Business Director John

Torok, the state Department of Education will not provide financial assistance

to towns until after a school's roof has been up for 20 years or more.

As it waited for the 20 years to be up, school administrators were concerned

of catastrophic failure, with water gushing in and destroying thousands of

dollars worth of school equipment.

"This is something that is desperately needed. It's not something we have any

discretionary choices over," said Mr Torok.

According to Mr Torok, if a school system can prove that the roof was

installed improperly, it can then negotiate for state aid prior to 20 years.

However, two years ago architects studied the roof and determined it was not

faulty.

As it stands now, the town will receive a 34.3 percent reimbursement for the

project, which will be done by Silktown Roofing of Manchester.

In an effort to stem the flow until the 20th anniversary, Building & Grounds

Supervisor Dom Posca has been putting in "quick patches" all over the roof.

Some have been successful, but some have not. He said leaks in flat "cold tar"

roofs of this size are common.

"Hot weather melts the tar, then it flows. It's supposed to be self-healing,

but it often splits open and water comes down through," Mr Posca said. "We

can't let it go any further."

The architectural work is being done by Kaestle Boos Associates, which is also

heading the project design on the addition/renovations at Newtown High School

and Hawley School. There's a 15-year warranty on the roof, according to

architect Chuck Boos.

The project is slated to start June 13 and finish up in mid- to late-August.

Mr Torok said the actual cost to re-roof Head O' Meadow School will cost

$489,522, but other funds have been added in, including $20,000 for bonding,

$20,000 for legal expenses, $6,000 for a clerk-of-the-works and $49,000 for

contingency. Several council members felt the contingency figure was too high.

Fifth-grade teacher Patricia Marshal's classroom has been hit hard by the

water. She has several buckets in her room to catch the drips and others at

the ready, just in case more leaks form.

"We've had to get used to the constant drip, drip, drip," she said. "It's like

Chinese water torture."

The project will also require approval at a town meeting.

On March 4, the Board of Education approved a recommendation from the Public

Building & Site Committee to spend the money for the roof.