Administrators Expect High School Ceiling Repairs Completed in Time for September Opening

Manchester school administrators said that they believe damage to the high school auditorium's ceiling will be completed by the time classes begin in September. 

Portions of the plaster ceiling fell in May, leading to the closure of the auditorium which was reopened in December 2010 after renovations from a 2009 construction referendum were completed.

"It's been a long process, but the bottom line is because we're really concerned with the safety of the situation, we've had a number of structural people look at the ceiling," said Superintendent of Schools David Trethaway at the July Board of Education meeting last week.

He said that additional repairs that insurance adjusters did not require will be paid for by the district "to be on the safe side."

"We've decided to fix a lot more of the area of the ceiling than the insurance company allotted for," Trethaway said.

The district's business administrator Craig Lorentzen said that, of the approximately $35,000 needed for the repairs, about $20,000 will be budgeted by the district, in addition to the $15,000 from the insurance settlement.

Though the cost of the repairs did not meet the threshold for the district to seek bids, three contractors were consulted and administrators settled on Jamesburg-based Specialty Plaster. 

"They did a good analysis of structurally what needed to be repaired," Trethaway said. "Of the three people who came out, we felt very comfortable with these guys and what they said. They did a thorough inspection of everything up above the ceiling."

Repair work is expected to begin this week. Lorentzen said that the contractor estimates repairs will take three weeks, Lorentzen said, and should be completed by the time schools reopen on Sept. 6.

Despite the damage, the superintendent said that he is confident in the building's safety.

"The bottom line is, it's still a very sound structure," Trethaway said.

Some events, such as the combined , were held in the school gym after the closure of the auditorium.