Higley seeks state funds for repairs at Power Ranch Elementary

Jul 21, 2010 — East Valley Tribune

Michelle Reese

Jul. 21, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- The Higley Unified School District sent a request to the Arizona School Facilities Board last week to fund the first phase of corrective renovations at Power Ranch Elementary School in southeast Gilbert.

Earlier this year, the district identified about $6 million in problems related to drainage issues around the campus, which have reportedly allowed excess water to collect on the grounds, as well as seep into the building. The findings were the result of an investigation started in October after mold was found at the school, which opened in 2002.

The district submitted the request for about $270,000 in emergency funding, said Tony Malaj, director of educational support and community partnerships. That is the estimate to repair the courtyard at the school, including repairing the grading -- the angle at which the water drains away from building -- and adding drains to get the water out of the courtyard.

Since December 2002, close to 50 work orders were put in by the school for issues related to drainage problems, including cracks around buildings, windows and doors, and floor tiles pulling up at the joints.

When heavy rains hit the school this winter, water flooded the district's courtyard and pooled around most of the buildings. The district cleaned out the existing drains in March and found what appeared to be construction asphalt, according to a presentation to Power Ranch families in May.

The School Facilities Board is not scheduled to meet again until Aug. 11, which means even if approved, construction will not be started until well after the start of classes, Aug. 9.

If the School Facilities Board denies the request, Malaj said the district will find the funds somewhere, then seek legal grounds to recoup the money.

"If they don't fund the repairs to the Power Ranch courtyard, we will find a way within our budget -- cut from here, cut from there -- to take care of the drainage and grading problem and pay for it out of our budget. Then we'll have to let the civil engineer and architect ... work that out with our attorneys," he said.

The original civil engineer and architect in the project have offered to redraw the grading and drainage around the campus, but have not offered to pay for repairs, Malaj said.

Once work does begin on the courtyard, it should take about a month, he said.

Until the fixes are made, Malaj said the district is prepared should rains hit the campus.

"We're ready with pumps. We're positioned like an army ready to attack. As soon as we see the clouds, we hover over the campus," he said.

Other fixes at the campus will have to wait until next summer. The district will need to test the soil around campus in the spring to be sure it stays dry enough. If so, then the cosmetic issues around the campus can be addressed, he said.

"We don't know how much it'll cost to repair the stucco and drywall," he said. "We can't fix that until we fix getting the moisture out from the buildings. Hopefully by next summer we'll start working on the problems caused by the drainage and grading being bad."

Elsewhere in the district, repairs from damage caused by a day of pranks at Williams Field High School are complete, Malaj said.

The week prior to school ending, a series of student-led events resulted in water damage on campus. The district has replaced ceiling pieces, floor tiles, carpets and baseboards in a number of classrooms.

The original estimate for repairs was $170,000, which the district's insurance company is covering. The insurance company then may seek legal avenues to collect funds from two students charged following allegations they damaged a sprinkler head on campus that caused the second floor flooding.

"I can't comment on the kids because it's a legal case," Malaj said.

The district also decided to install parking lot and courtyard cameras at both its campuses. In addition, Williams Field will get stationary cameras around campus. Higley High School already has them.

The total cost for all the cameras at the schools is about $80,000.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0132-47175657