Westfield High School Water Damage Covered by Roofing Contractor, District Official Says

The roof repair and replacement project at Westfield High School has proved more challenging than originally expected due to excessive rain and extreme heat, Westfield schools business administrator Dana Sullivan told the Board of Education at its Tuesday's meeting. 

While the project initially got off to a slow start, the repairs are moving along nicely now, said Sullivan, who added that the contractor has been receptive to requests from the district to pick up the pace and has even hired a sub-contractor to help complete the job at no additional cost to the district.

She explained that the original timetable was "aggressive" and when weather became a factor, it was up to the contractor to decide if he was going to choose to work, particularly on days when the chance of rain was estimated to be 30 to 40 percent.

Last Thursday, when heavy rains swept through the area, the contractors were at work and water that got into the building and caused damage will be covered by the contractor, Sullivan said. 

When school opens on Tuesday, roofers will get back to work at 3:30 p.m. and will work on Thursday and Friday, when the school is closed in observance of Rosh Hashanah as well as on weekends to complete the job by October or early November, Sullivan said. Overtime costs will also be covered by the contractor.

After-school activities will not be impacted, she said, and once the job is finished the lawn will be repaired, also at the contractor's expense. 

The roof at WHS is one of three being worked on this summer. The roofs at Roosevelt Intermediate School and Washington Elementary School have also been repaired. 

Next summer, work will begin on the roofs at Edison Intermediate School, Frankin Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, Lincoln Early Childhood Learning Center, McKinley Elementary, Tamaques Elementary, Wilson Elementary, Kehler Field House and the Board offices. The district recently learned that it is eligible to receive $2.7 million in state aid for these projects. To learn more, click here.