Middle School Suffers "Significant Cracks," Requires Emergency Fix

The Lindenhurst Middle School has sustained multiple "significant cracks" and requires emergency repairs, district officials said at last week's Board of Education meeting.

According to the district's engineer John Grillo, multiple cracks and leaks were found on the portion of the building where the Auditorium meets the original structure with steel support beams attaching it.

"The masonry cracks were on an old part of building in front, said district plant facilities administrator John Marek. He noted there were vertical cracks and two near the tech shop. "The brick work has come loose... and the architect and engineer are concerned."

Marek said that while no students or staff were in danger at the present moment, leaving the cracks exposed to the elements – especially water – would further the damage the building has sustained.

The Board unanimously passed two resolutions during the public meeting authorizing the payment of the emergency capital project, using funds from the district's capital account.

Assistant Superintendent Jacqueline Scrio estimated the project would cost about $100,000 to complete. The project would leave about $200,000 remaining in the district's capital account.

"In order to use money we have now, we have to declare an emergency," Scrio said. "It cannot wait a year and half. The building is not going to fall down, but we need to get it done."

The final repair will be completed now that the board has passed an emergency resolution. Remedial work was being completed to sustain the building.

Waiting any longer, Marek said, would have allowed water to continue to seep into the building, which could have lead to further interior damage or cause the exterior brick facade to fall away from the building.

"In my opinion, it has to be done," he said.

Correction: An earlier version of this story stated the district would have to seek a full repair during the next budget; due to initial confusion, this was incorrect – the full repair will be completed using the funds passed during this school board meeting.