Afternoon Storm Causes Minor Setback For CHS Roof Repair

Less than one week before the doors to Coventry High School open for the 2013-2014 school year, crews Thursday were forced to scramble in an attempt to clean up water damage from a passing thunderstorm.

Workers were not called in specifically for the cleanup, but have actually been on-site at the school all summer to replace the faulty roof that has been a topic of contention for parents, school faculty, staff and students alike for more than a decade.


Luckily, the storm and its torrential rain did not linger very long, however the school department did hire a professional cleaning crew to take on the mess contained to the wing of the school that houses the music and cosmetology classrooms, as well as the school's radio station. The roof is expected to be finished in time for the first day of school next Wednesday.

The roof replacement was funded by a $2,252,000 bond approved by Coventry voters last November as part of a $8.5 million bond package earmarked for various improvements at all of the town's public schools. Due to health and safety concerns, without a replacement roof, CHS would not have been able to reopen next week, putting the school at great risk for losing its accreditation.

Officials do not expect the Thursday's mishap to delay the start of school on Aug. 28.

"We're keeping our fingers crossed that over the next couple of days everything is cleaned up and taken care of," said Superintendent Mike Almeida. "I don't anticipate any delays in regards to school opening on time."