Coal City Intermediate School closed due to north gym’s structural issues

Coal City Intermediate School will close, with students and staff moving to Coal City Elementary School starting Monday after further investigation into the crack that developed in the north gym’s north wall.

Sections of Coal City Intermediate School, including the north gym and some classrooms and offices that included the band and music room, were closed last week to allow engineers to inspect the building. The north gym’s north wall had developed a crack and on Friday, the district revealed cracks had also developed on the ceiling.

“The structural issues involved damaged trusses in the gym’s barrel roof and a resulting lateral crack in the north wall,” reads a Friday news release.

Superintendent Chris Spencer sent a letter to parents Wednesday evening that the district is taking an over-abundance of caution in closing the school until further notice.

The district has been monitoring the damage since it was reported, and architects and structural engineers from two different firms were brought on-site to survey the visible damage, according to a Friday news release. Temporary measures were taken to secure the wall, but the damaged still worsened.

“Upon further investigation of the roofing system, a second truss had visible signs of stress cracks,” the news release reads. “It was at this time the decision was made to close the school.”

Spencer said Friday will be a non-attendance day for all 4th and 5th grade students. The rest of the district will remain in session as scheduled.

More information on where the 4th and 5th grade students will attend school will be posted as it’s made available.

The Coal City Unit 1 School Board approved a measure retaining Performance Services as consultants on the north gym’s ceiling and wall for approximately $25,000. Performance Services will move forward with measures to stabilize the gym roof and north wall, and provide the Board of Education with long-term options for the building.

Jason Smith, Coal City Unit 1′s Chief Business Official, said the plan is to install “deadmen” on the outside of the north gym wall to keep it from moving any further, and install floor-to-ceiling wood piers inside the gym to bear the weight of the trusses. The gym floor and bleachers will be removed.

“This work is only intended to stabilize the space and that will give the Board time to make decisions on what kind of solution we want to move forward with,” Smith said.

The work to stabilize the building is estimated to cost $150,000 to $200,000. The board took action during the Wednesday meeting to approve an emergency health, life and safety resolution that allows the district to use health and life safety funds to help cover the cost.

The elementary school, according to a survey conducted on the district’s school buildings, should have enough space for the additional students.

“Will it be tight? Absolutely,” said Board President Ken Miller. “Is it going ot be ideal? No, but it is what we have to do to protect those kids.

Spencer said having a safe place to learn is the district’s priority, and this is the best option for the students and staff. The district believes this closure will extend through the end of the school year.