Port Orange Elementary to undergo $2.3M in repairs to address 'emergency' water intrusion
DELAND — Volusia County Schools Superintendent Carmen Balgobin has recommended an emergency be declared to fix water-damaged walls at Port Orange Elementary, a repair with an estimated $2.3 million price tag.
The school board approved an item at its Tuesday night meeting to address the water intrusion, though school board members also noted a need to address mold and mildew at the school.
Chief Operations Officer Earl Johnson said they were working on mitigating those issues, and that recent rain and wind did create moisture inside.
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While hurricanes and severe weather can exacerbate issues such as the water intrusion, Johnson told The News-Journal via an email from the district communications team that the 97-year-old building requires the maintenance due to its age.
"Moisture intrusion was identified within the wall cavities on the exterior walls of the building," the email explained. "This was observed only on the exterior walls in the building and no standing water has been observed at this time."
The repair or replacement of the walls will require scraping out the mortar of all walls in the building, then replacing the mortar and steel lintels installed in the window gaps, he told board members.
The job will not be completed for four to six months, with work not starting until the summer. The district does not anticipate any classrooms or offices needing to move during that time, as most of the repairs are on the exterior of the building.
The $2.3 million in estimated repairs will come from the district's Local Capital Improvement Fund. It does not take into account addressing the mold and mildew school board members mentioned.
Contact reporter Danielle Johnson at djohnson@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Port Orange Elementary needs 'emergency' water-intrusion repairs
