Coventry middle school roof work will run into the school year; asbestos pushes finish to spring

The Coventry Building Committee reviewed a phased middle school roof replacement that will continue into the school year, and confirmed that a high school wastewater connection should be finished by the end of August, at its May 6 meeting.

According to the committee's published meeting recording, materials for the middle school partial roof replacement arrived the day of the meeting — eight tractor-trailer loads of insulation and roofing material, unloaded over a full day with forklifts. The contract is fully executed, and submittals have been reviewed and approved. Committee members noted that early-morning deliveries drew a noise complaint from a neighbor, and asked staff to look at alternate staging spots the next morning.

Roof work phased around students

The first phase covers the auditorium and adjacent classrooms, which the committee expects to complete before school starts. A second area — classrooms, a gymnasium, locker rooms and a media center — has no assigned dates yet and was described as "TBD" while the team measures how fast crews actually work.

The plan changed from what was contemplated a month earlier. Rather than starting with classrooms, the committee said the work now begins where it least disrupts teaching, then adjusts once students settle into routines. Officials said the roofing product is glued rather than nailed, so most noise comes from demolition.

Asbestos was found in one section of the roof. Committee members said no abatement work will begin there until students are out of the building for an extended period, ideally timed to a vacation week. That timing is expected to push the overall project completion into the spring.

The middle school principal, Jeff, said phys ed can generally move outdoors in good weather and that one classroom could be relocated, with families told in advance. A letter to staff was drafted, to be followed by a notice to the wider school community.

One unresolved conflict: the building is used as a polling place, and the gymnasium — the usual voting location — is where crews expect to be working. The committee said it would raise the issue with election officials.

High school wastewater and EPA extension

Dan, the town official handling the project, said the wastewater work should be done by the end of August, with the high school connected then. Reservoir Road is expected to be clear of detours when school starts, but final paving will come later. The existing tank will be drained, punctured, filled with sand and closed; officials said DEM has no role in that work, and the DPW will handle it.

The EPA grant funding the project was set to expire September 30. The committee said an extension was requested and granted through December 31, allowing paving and final payments to be completed.

The remaining risk flagged was a pending pretreatment permit application, which must be approved before the connection can be used.

Other projects

• A new well at Western will be drilled inside the fence line rather than beyond it, after consultants warned about truck access and EPA reluctance to clear trees. The work will be bid as two separate RFPs — drilling first, possibly as soon as next month, with pipe, tank and mechanical work in the spring. The committee discussed building an enclosure over the wellhead because it sits in a play area.
• Hopkins Hill paving was scheduled for the following Monday, a roughly two-day job. Asbestos tile abatement there is complete, with new tile down in about 14 classrooms and two hallways.
• High school fire protection work is progressing; the kitchen is finished and crews are in the auditorium. Protective baskets over sprinkler heads in the gym and music room are being installed at no change order.
• The committee heard that lighting and sound packages for an auditorium project are being priced, with old equipment likely needing decommissioning.

Votes and what's next

The committee approved minutes from June 3 pending an edit, and approved July 9 minutes, both by voice vote. No members of the public spoke during public comment. The committee voted by voice to adjourn.

Members also discussed beginning to plan the next round of projects — including a middle school gym floor and bleachers, and a bathroom at Western — and asked for a finance update on how much of the bond authorization remains.

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 3.