Attleboro High track, roofs at two other schools need repairs – The Sun Chronicle

ATTLEBORO The new $259 million Attleboro High at 1 Blue Pride Way stands tall and proud as the citys flagship school.

And while the school department struggles with an underfunded budget of at least $10 million, the track at the high school, which was not part of the new construction, is beginning to wear away.

School maintenance chief Jason Parenteau said the base is still solid but the top is developing divots which will have to be repaired or replaced soon if the city does not want to replace the whole track.

The $3.3 million football field and track were completed in September 2013 in time for the Blue Bombardiers opening football game.

Parenteau estimated it would cost about $325,000 to repair.

The base is in very good shape, he said. It will be 24 months before its impacted. Its not a crisis.

And Parenteau said at least two schools have leaks in their roofs.

Thacher Elementary and Coelho Middle have leaks where old meets new, he said. Both were renovated in the 1990s and both had additions put on.

At Thacher, there are major leaks in what is known as the pavilion.

During a tour provided by Parenteau and Finance Manager Marc Furtado, city councilors got to see the leaks for themselves because it was raining when they got there.

In fact, a new leak was discovered and someone had to place a wastebasket under it to catch the drips.

All told there were five buckets of some kind catching water.

Theres a lot of water in the pavilion, Parenteau said. The roof is leaking where the additions are. Were chasing leaks on a regular basis.

At Thacher, cracks are emerging in the floors, again where old meets new.

At Coelho, there is what is known as a ballasted roof, which means it has stony surface.

The water is reaching some of the metal beams and rust is developing.

Its tough chasing leaks on that kind of surface, Parenteau said.

This kind of roofing is very difficult to maintain, he said. You cant tell where the leaks are.

And meanwhile, some of the fiberglass skylights in both schools are starting to yellow from exposure to the sun.

George W. Rhodes can be reached at 508-236-0432.

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Attleboro High track, roofs at two other schools need repairs - The Sun Chronicle