Eldred staff adverts disaster

It’s sheer luck says district superintendent

By LISA CUTRONI

ELDRED, NY — Routine maintenance prevented a catastrophic event at Eldred Central School.

A section of the 165-foot ceiling frame left during renovations to the Junior-Senior High School gymnasium in 1985 was found resting on the tile drop ceiling installed during the expansion.

ECS employees, Troy Green and Jim Dorcas, observed the section of “old ceiling” while completing routine tile replacement work the morning of December 13.

“We adverted a great disaster,” Katz said. The plaster and wire mesh frame weights hundreds of pounds and lines three of the four 55-foot walls.

The damaged section could have fallen on the set of bleachers by the main entrance to the gym, Katz said.

“That it did not break through and fall to the floor is sheer luck, considering the vibration and noise generated at various events that take place in the gym,” he added.

The district received emergency approval by the New York State Department of Education and Department of Labor to make repairs, including the removal of the “old ceiling” frame and asbestos found in the 60-year-old material.

The board of education will pass a resolution for payment at the January 12 meeting. The district will borrow the necessary funds to complete the work. The anticipated work schedule and cost of repairs will be figured out sometime during the next week, Katz said.

District officials were unaware of the frame or asbestos presences.

“It’s another mine we’ve tripped over. What’s scariest is that we don’t know what we don’t know. This kind of issue underscores the idea that we have to move ahead with the building project sooner, not later,” Katz said, “We didn’t know it was there. Honestly, I don’t know if it was a cost saving issue or what.”

This is just another problem currently plaguing the school building. Earlier this month, board of education president Vincent Zike proposed to expedite a course of action to either make the needed repairs to the building or to shut it down and tuition out students.

The gym will remain closed to the school community until repairs are made. Physical education classes, as well as, sports and music practices have been rerouted to other locations.

“It’s difficult at best. We don’t have use of the gym, which is an integral part of [daily activities],” Katz said.

A combination of resources from the Thomas Group and Foit Albert, the engineering and architectural firms of New York employed by the district, will have repairs done “as quickly as possible” Katz said.