Last week's downpours caused flooding of a drainage system that runs beneath the gymnasium floor at New London High School, leaving major water damage behind.
Water seeped up through the floor, causing it to buckle.
"We got a call from the custodial staff saying that there was water coming into the gym," explained Timothy Wheeler, the chief of operations for New London Schools. "We immediately committed all the resources we could to the gym to start sucking up all the water and we realized the water was coming up from underneath – an old drain, due to the construction of the school back in the 60s."
Wheeler said asbestos is present in one of the layers beneath the gym floor, but experts have assured the school system that there is no public health risk. Air quality studies conducted after the flooding came back negative for any carcinogens.
Physical education classes have been moved outside and volleyball practices are now being held at another high school in the city.
The school system is considering several repair options from contractors who have already placed bids for the work. The proposals range from ripping up and replacing the floor to patching the sections in the middle that buckled.
The cheapest option is to use city equipment to flatten the floor and re-balance it.
Local
"We like that option," said Wheeler.
Principal Tommy Thompson said plans are already in the works to replace the gym so any solution will be temporary.
"We’re looking for it to be cost-effective number one for the safety of the students and the safety of the schools is No. 1, make sure they get a good floor to play on for basketball season," he said.
