Major drain problems at PHE will disrupt
school and cost $1 million to repair
By Bob Weaver
Pleasant Hill Elementary School parents are encouraged to attend a special meeting Thursday, August 14 to learn about critical problems at Pleasant Hill Elementary School, according to superintendent Jane Lynch.
The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Grantsville Senior Center.
The Pleasant Hill school has major problems with a sewer drain that runs the entire length of the downstairs hallway, the malfunction was reported to county board members a couple months ago.
Lynch told board members this week that adjustments will have to be made for school to open in the building later this month.
She said TV cameras had been put in the drains to evaluate the extent of corrosion. "It's really bad," she said, lamenting that the contractor that installed the drains is no longer in business.
Lynch said a meeting with School Building Authority, Director Mark Manchin and other officials indicates the county will receive $900,000 to $1 million dollars for the first phase of correcting the problem.
"It will be issued as emergency funding," she said.
The main floor of the school will be sealed off and classes will be conducted on the second floor. Emergency drains for second story restrooms will be installed.
The cafeteria will also be closed, and food will likely be delivered from Calhoun Middle-High School.
Lynch also announced another problem discovered in the school. "The building has some asbestos tile, which will be removed later," she said.
"When the building was built, it was to have contained no asbestos," she said. "It is not a problem for student safety unless it is disturbed," indicating the replacement of a new sewer line could create that problem.
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