Water damage KOs gym floor

by Tom Coombe

The almost 75-calendar year-previous gymnasium floor in Ely’s Memorial Substantial School will be replaced, but in all probability not in the way that university officers envisioned.

New h2o injury at the faculty is bringing about the adjust by necessity, and crews were being on hand Monday to commence the arduous course of action of taking away wooden from the ground.

Get the job done is anticipated to consider months and price tag well into 6 figures, but the district is completing an coverage assert since of a burst h2o line that brought on hefty destruction, which include in some lecture rooms, in mid-March.

Tim Leeson, the district’s facilities director, briefed board customers Monday.

“The (insurance policies) adjuster and a flooring expert did occur listed here very last Thursday,” said Leeson. “They cut a gap in the floor and looked and determined the floor wanted to be taken off. You could not sand it any much more and it was ample that it just totally essential to be taken out.”

For now, only the leading layer of the flooring – the gymnasium playing surface – is getting eradicated.

There are two more levels underneath.

“They’re hoping that right after they get the floor ripped up and minimize some holes in many places and dry it out (it could be preserved),” said Leeson.

That method could take up to a thirty day period just before it’s decided what will arrive following.

Leeson extra “we haven’t heard everything on timelines or when the floor will be ordered. There is plenty to decide with that.”

In the meantime, the Memorial gymnasium has been shut down for the remainder of the faculty yr – disrupting some bodily training courses and Ely’s spring athletics groups.

With snow on the floor

until late this week, and fields nevertheless a relative mess, the gymnasium has been the practice home of Ely’s baseball and softball teams right until this 7 days.

The baseball group went about to Babbitt, taking complete edge of a new cooperative arrangement with neighboring Northeast Variety, to apply in the gymnasium there.

In the meantime, Ely’s softball group has ventured out into the arena parking great deal and will  utilize the new gymnasium at periods.

Both of those the baseball and softball groups hope to get out onto their fields in a 7 days.

Board chairman Ray Marsnik said he was amazed by the cleanup district custodial personnel has finished in the wake of the drinking water damage.

“It was a significant task and they did a remarkable career,” Marsnik advised Leeson.

In other company, the board:

• Accepted the retirement discover of longtime college upkeep worker Kirt Hartshorn, who will depart the district at the close of the school 12 months.

• Gained an up to date enrollment report that showed latest K-12 enrollment at 544 learners.

• Hired Suzanna Kelley for a cafeteria aide position.

• Recognized the resignation of paraprofessional Ammie Peterson, effective June 2.