Schools

School Board Approves $1M Roof Repair

Board members Tom Gehl and Glen Allgaier said they believe the roof work was not needed when $62M referendum passed but was an issue before construction ended.

Roof repairs at Elmbrook's two high schools were not included in a 2007 $62 million referendum to improve those schools because the roofs were in good shape at that time, Elmbrook School Board members say.

Board members voted unanimously Tuesday to pay up to $994,750 to repair and replace about 10 percent of the high schools' roofs, using district reserve funds.

Two board members who last month said Tuesday they believe the roofs deteriorated after the referendum was drafted and passed.

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But School Board President Tom Gehl said he believes the roofs were in trouble before the end of the referendum construction project, when board members made decisions on how to allocate remaining project funds.

"I believe that (officials) did adequate assess the roof in 2007 and it was not a need at that time," Gehl said. 

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By the fall of 2009 "we could have and should have" considered whether the roof work should be funded in all or part with referendum contingency funds, he added.  

No one was pounding on the table, urging the roof work be done, Gehl said. "I think we missed the mark here," he added.

Board member Glen Allgaier said he shared the concern raised by some constituents who wondered how the roofs could be sufficient during the referendum planning "and then all of a sudden it has got leaking and it has to be fixed right away."

Allgaier said he recently walked on roofs (on a 90-degree day) with a roofing consultant and believes what he was told: that aging roofs which the high schools have can deteriorate rapidly when heavy rains penetrate the seams.

Board member Jean Lambert asked if other aging roof sections of the high schools should also be replaced before they deteriorate. 

Scott Miller, Elmbrook's director of facilities, said other areas are being watched and will be included in future capital improvement plans.

Keith Brightman, assistant superintendent for finance and operations, presented a timeline of what was known about the roof when and what actions were taken, in response to some concerns by board and community members.

Brightman said in November 2007 the high school "roof areas were all in good shape" and no repairs were recommended.

In fall 2009, there was "some awareness and discussion at weekly construction updates" about using surplus funds to repair aging roof areas, but a full replacement was not needed at that time, Brightman said.

In December 2010 roof patching needs were identified, and placed in the district's long-range capital improvement plans. 

In March and April 2010, the final meetings were held of the committee that oversaw the construction, the High School Facilities Next Steps Steering Team. The roof work was not included in the final work.

In July 2010 "unusually heavy rains" deteriorated the aging roofs and caused leaks in the roof at East High and district administration building and leaks in the roof and walls at Central High school.

In October 2010 a roofing consultant was retained who recommended emergency patching which was done.  

In January a consultant recommended roof replacement, which was placed in the district's long-range capital improvement plan which was cut in the 2011-12 district budget from $700,000 to $400,000.

In March additional inspections resulted in the consultant's recommendation to spend up to $994,750 to replace roof and perform tuck pointing, using district reserve funds.

The district reserves last June totaled about $27.5 million, or 27 percent of the general operating fund. That is substantially higher than the minimum 15 percent the district's policy targets.

After spending the $994,750 for the high school roof projects, about $2.9 million for a Pilgrim Park Middle School heating, air and ventilation system and other designated funds, the fund balance on June 30, 2011 should be about $23 million, or 23 percent of operating funds, Brightman said last month.


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