The Westlock Outreach School was forced to relocate after a March 12 waterline break that caused an estimated $30,000 in damage. Students have been moved to the MacKenzie Building downtown.
The Westlock Outreach School will remain closed for at least the next few months following an early-morning waterline break March 12 that caused roughly $30,000 in damages.
Pembina Hills Public Schools director of facilities Tracy Tyreman said when staff arrived at the school, located on the north side of 107 Street, at 8:30 a.m. they were shocked to find water covering three quarters of the building’s 2,500 square-foot layout.
Since the break, two feet of drywall has been removed from the bottom of the walls, while the flooring will have to be replaced, along with much of the furniture, said Tyreman who spoke to Westlock News onsite March 22.
“We had a lot of furnishings, a lot of bookshelves and a lot of desk units for the students. Out of 24, we could only salvage four, so 20 were basically write-offs. The biggest expense could be the furnishings. I’m thinking it’s going to be about $30,000, but that’s just a guess,” said Tyreman.
The waterline break happened in front of the Town of Westlock Fire Hall on 99 Avenue, between 106 and 107 Street.
NAPA, which neighbours the school to the west, was also flooded, although owner Ryan Provencal said damage was minimal as he had installed an epoxy cement floor following another flood four years previous.
In the meantime the school’s students, which vary from four to 22 depending on the day, are attending a makeshift school downtown in the MacKenzie Building (#203, 10619 – 100 Avenue). Tyreman said it could take as long as two months to reopen the school, although he said they’re weighing their options.
“Long term we have to look at where we’re located right now and if this is going to be a good fit for us for the future and we’re weighing our options right now on whether we stay here or find something else,” said Tyreman.
“We like the location and everything, but there are other places in town that could possibly work for us.”
