Water damage under evaluation

Bentonville gym flooded during storm earlier this month

BENTONVILLE — A midday storm earlier this month caught roofing workers off guard and flooded part of Bentonville High School’s main gymnasium, according to School District officials.

Workers haven’t yet determined the extent of the damage or exactly how much repair work is needed. The district is waiting for recommendations from insurance companies for both the district and the roofing company, facilities director Paul Wallace said.

There’s a “wide range” of potential remedies, including replacing the gym floor, Wallace said.

The district hired Harness Roofing in May to replace most of the roof on the high school’s south building this summer. The School Board approved the project at a maximum price of about $1.3 million.

Workers left for lunch July 6 after removing a portion of the roof. There was no rain in the forecast, but a thunderstorm popped up while workers were away, Wallace said.

NWA Restore It of Centerton came in to get fans blowing on the floor. The drying process is ongoing.

“We’re feeling pretty good about it,” Wallace said. “We’re glad for the quick response from the roofing company and from NWA Restore It. We’re pleased with the results so far.”

Harness Roofing is based in Harrison. A manager at the firm’s Springdale office declined to comment on the Bentonville High School flooding incident.

The roofing project is on track to be completed by the start of the new school year Aug. 13, Wallace said. Harness is also working on a partial roof replacement project at Washington Junior High School this summer.

Bentonville High School’s

volleyball team, which regularly uses the main gym for practices and matches, has been meeting in an auxiliary gymnasium since practices started July 9, said coach Michelle Smith. She actually

prefers to use one of the school’s two auxiliary gyms for practices, she said.

“We really haven’t missed a beat. It’s been great,” Smith said.

As for whether the competition gym will be ready for matches, “Everyone’s hopeful,” Smith said.

Matches could be played in one of the auxiliary gyms if necessary, said athletic director Scott Passmore. Bentonville High School is scheduled to host the state volleyball tournament in November. Passmore said he expects the situation in the main gym to be resolved by then.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CHARLIE KAIJO Jose Portillo, a contractor from NWA Restore It, removes old glue from base moldings Monday at Bentonville High School’s gymnasium. The moldings had to be removed to dry water underneath the basketball court after rain from a storm about two weeks ago leaked through the roof of the gym causing 3 to 4 inches of water to flood the floor, said Peter Hader from NWA Restore It.