WRESTLING ROOM WALL ‘MELTED OFF,’ SUPERINTENDENT SAYS
OROVILLE >> The stucco on the exterior west wall of the Oroville High School wrestling room collapsed.
The wall, which faces Bridge Street, gave way on Feb. 13. Since it was a Saturday, no students were present at the time and the area surrounding the wall was immediately blocked off.
“We have no idea why it happened. The whole wall just sort of melted off — the felt, chicken wire and stucco — all of it just came down. It may have something to do with building’s age. We just don’t know what caused it,” said Oroville Union High School District Superintendent Corey Willenberg.
The debris from the collapse has remained untouched since the incident while testing for asbestosis and lead were conducted. The test results which were received by the district Tuesday showed only traces of both substances.
“This is good news for us.
We can now go ahead with the maintenance and don’t have to bring in the guys in white suits or contain it all in a tent,” said Willenberg.
The wrestling room was added on to the school’s gymnasium sometime in the 1960s or early 1970s. The addition has three exterior-facing walls including the one that’s stucco failed and the fourth wall is “tucked in against the gym wall,” said Willenberg.
While the district was waiting for the results of the lead test, it is also working with a local contractor to get a bid on the repairs. Due to the age of the building Willenberg thinks that all three outward-facing walls’ exterior covering will have to be replaced and that insurance will not cover the costs.
“We take great pride in the maintenance of our buildings for the safety of our kids and for looking good. That building was just repainted last year. We do not believe this incident had anything to do with poor maintenance. We think it’s a fluke,” said Willenberg.