Health District Inspection Finds Middle School Roof Wanting

By Eliza Hallabeck

Responding to complaints that had been reported to the Health District, Health Director Donna Culbert visited the Newtown Middle School on Monday, February 9.

“We try to keep up with what is going on in the schools,” said Ms Culbert during a phone interview on Monday.

Ms Culbert said the director of facilities for the district, Gino Faiella, and a custodian at the middle school have done the best they can to contain the leaks in the roof.

During her trip to the school, Ms Culbert said that she had seen two leaks in the roof; one in the cafeteria and one in a classroom. She said this was the first time she has seen the leaks at the school.

“I think the snow and ice make it worse,” she said.

The complaints that were communicated to the Health District revolved around concerns for the students, and she said the situation at the school needs further work. Ms Culbert said fixing the leaks is a matter of getting the project funded.

“Whenever you allow water in a building,” Ms Culbert said, “it’s not good.”

In the school district’s Capital Improvement Plan, the roof repair work is scheduled for the 2010-2011 school year.

“The people at the middle school are working as hard as they can,” she said.

There is no splashing or contamination of the space in the cafeteria, Ms Culbert said. She added that there was a lot of work put in to containing the leaks at the school. The water leaking into the school is being captured and funneled with tarps, she said.

“It’s not ideal, but it’s the best they can do,” said Ms Culbert.

Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson previously told The Bee on Wednesday, February 4, the ice on the roof has been making the situation difficult, and there are eight leaks in total at the school.