Fairwood Elementary School will replace a section of its roof this summer to adhere to district safety standards.
As part of the 2006 bond reallocation of $15.9 million intended to pay for the new Covington Elementary School, the roof maintenance project, estimated to cost $650,000, was one of six highly prioritized by the Citizens Bond Review Committee (CBRC).
“We were getting roof leaks, which causes deterioration of the roofing and ceilings,” said Fred Long, director of facility services at the Kent School District. “When the board decided to reallocate those monies … we decided what (were) the highest priority projects we had on the maintenance list, and that was one of them because it was causing us the most problems.”
The approximately 4,000-square-foot section of the roof to be replaced supports gas pack heating units raised about four inches off the roof. Over time, the material underneath the units deteriorated, causing a leaking problem for faculty, staff and students at Fairwood Elementary.
“It’s leaked off and on for a long time,” said Patricia Hoyle, principal of Fairwood Elementary School. “It’s definitely impacting students and their safety.”
According to Hoyle, main traffic areas like hallways, smaller classrooms and office spaces have been affected by the deterioration of the roof and that discolored ceiling tiles, whether currently experiencing leaking issues or not, are concerning.
The district also plans to replace the existing heating units and construct a mechanical building around them to keep them dry.
The original roof at Fairwood Elementary was constructed when the school was built in 1969 and replaced in 1987. The current project is to begin in June and finish before the start of the new school year.
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