The Board of Regents Tuesday approved emergency action taken by the Iowa School for the Deaf in Council Bluffs to deal with severe storm damage from hail and rain in August. Superintendent Jeanne Prickett said they had to make many repairs to ensure the buildings were safe.
She says there were approximately 70 windows broken out in the storm August 18th and they immediately replaced the windows that were in areas where the children most often go and glass was on the floor. Prickett says they hired an arichitectural firm to give them an idea of what it might cost to repair the damage.
Pricket says the preliminary estimate is that it could exceed one-point-five million dollars. “There is literally damage to every single roof on campus,” she said. The french clay tile roof on the administration building is damaged and she says it’s not yet clear how much damage will lead to leaks, especially if there is ice and snow on the roof in the winter.
Prickett says the multipurpose building that includes the gym area was badly damaged by hail and then heavy rain. She says the water came through the ceiling tiles and look like waterfalls as it cascaded onto the gym floor and other places throughout the building. Prickett says they have had to rent gym space for now and says the Lewis Central and Council Bluffs school districts have been very good about offering gym space.
The regents approved a waiver to allow the school to make needed repairs to keep operating, while the school continues working to make more permanent repairs.