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Board's Concern About New School Justified

Highlands Today Staff

Published: May 3, 2008

It is probably safe to assume that during a major construction project like a school there will be a glitch or two come up and that's understandable.

A structural problem with a building is much more than that as in the case of Highlands County's newest school being built between Avon Park and Sebring.

Expansion in the metal roof of Memorial Elementary School caused cracks in cement blocks a few weeks ago. The problem at Memorial has been fixed, according to a school official.

At least a couple of members of the School Board of Highlands County seemed somewhat annoyed during last week's meeting when the "design flaw" at the school was brought up. Their concern stemmed from apparently not being made aware verbally of the significance of the problem earlier. One board member believed the problem cropped up in February, but it was two months before the board heard about it.

The new school is the district's first building to be built under one roof. The building is shaped like a "T," with the longest part exceeding 700 feet.

The problem occurred when a black, water-proofing membrane absorbed the sun's rays, transferring the heat to the expansive roof's metal trusses and sub-deck. The expansion caused the concrete block on both ends of the building to crack.

The board wants assurances that the redesign won't cause problems in the future. So does the public.

This is a building with an estimated cost of more than $14 million. It is a major undertaking and a huge expense.

The board and the public need to know that it is structurally sound from the first day students walk through its doors.

The board directed its attorney, John McClure, to review correspondence with the firm that designed the school. McClure might also want to make sure the tab for the redesign work of about $91,000 now will be picked up by the architectural firm.

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