Emergency Repairs at Sullivan West

Board votes to shore up second-floor beams before opening high school

By FRITZ MAYER

LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — Construction workers were busy working at Sullivan West High School on the days leading up to the first day of school to mitigate some structural deficiencies that had been found on the second floor.

Engineers were engaged to inspect the building for any structural problems after what school district officials described as “cosmetic flaws” were discovered during routine maintenance in July. The district signed contracts with two consulting engineering firms, who, according to school officials, made use of construction sonar and x-rays, and other state-of-the-art techniques, to test all of the buildings materials and specifications.

The engineers reported that they had some concerns with some of the beams on the second floor, and remedial work was ordered. Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Hilton said the repairs are “not major surgery.” He said the work involved placing a number of “shoring poles” or columns to provide additional support to some beams in the ceiling. He said the work was probably redundant, but was ordered because he and the school board were choosing to err on the side of caution.

A statement from the district read: “The board of education, wanting to be certain of the safety of students and staff, has ordered that this remediation be completed prior to the start of the school year and the occupation of the school.

By the afternoon of Tuesday, September 4, administration officials were said that the high school would open as scheduled on September 5.