After voting in December to replace the roof at one of its elementary schools, Hempfield Area school directors will decide next week whether to add three additional roof projects onto the district’s to-do list.
The board in December hired Garland Company Inc. to replace the roof on Fort Allen’s gym and music classrooms, which will cost nearly $281,000. The original project cost was more than $450,000, but Garland agreed to subtract the cost of a faulty coating the company previously placed on the roof.
The coating was applied to roofs on several of the district’s school buildings five years ago, Holtzman said.
“I don’t know why it was used,” he said. “A lot of schools don’t have multi-millions to replace roofs. … It was a temporary solution, and we’re finding out that it needs attention.”
The board will vote Monday on expanding the scope of the Fort Allen roof replacement to include a section covering the library. This would cost nearly $390,000.
Roof replacement projects at Stanwood Elementary, West Hempfield Elementary and West Hempfield Middle schools also will be considered.
West Hempfield Middle’s roof is eyed for replacement because of the faulty coating, Holtzman said. Stanwood and West Hempfield Elementary’s roofs did not receive the coating but are nearing the end of their life.
Recent snow and rain have worsened roof conditions, Holtzman said.
“It’s because water laid up there for 30 days and then really all melted in three days,” he said.
If the projects are approved, the district aims to replace West Hempfield Elementary’s roof once the Fort Allen project is completed. The Stanwood and West Hempfield Middle projects are slated for the summer, Holtzman said.
“We’re hopeful and optimistic that that’ll be the case,” he said.
The cost for these projects has not been determined, but Holtzman estimates the combined cost would fall in the millions. The board accepted in December a $1 million state grant to assist with the roof project and accompanying HVAC system replacement at Stanwood.
Each new roof would have a 30-year warranty.
The district is performing air quality testing in each building to check for mold that could have been caused by the leaks. Holtzman said no mold has been detected.
The buildings have not sustained major damage from the leaks, Holtzman said. Some carpeting has been affected.