Parents raise concern over auditorium stage repairs

Quality of materials used questioned by council

NORWALK — Repairs done to the Norwalk High School Auditorium stage may not be up to standard, according to some representatives of the school.

“The stage had been severely damaged because of multiple instances of flooding.

Because of flooding, therefore, the top layer of the stage needed to be replaced,” said State

Senate Majority

Leader Bob Duff, who a member of the Norwalk High School

School Governance

Council. “There’s some questions about the quality of the materials used and whether or not a long-term solution has been put into place for the stage and the safety of the students.”

Flooding occurred as recently as last summer and, according to Duff, the work was completed in recent weeks.

Lori Sackowitz, also a member of the Norwalk High School SGC, said at the seven-member group’s Wednesday meeting, they surveyed the work.

“We went in to look at it and it was very disappointing,” Sackowitz said. “I don’t remember exactly what was there before, but this was disappointing.”

She described air bubbles in the floor, corners that hadn’t been nailed down properly — which she feared could create a tripping hazard — and a rough finish that the SGC was not expecting. She worried about the safety of students performing in the upcoming Candlelight performance, which will run Dec. 16-20.

Sackowitz said the Council suggested Norwalk High School Principal Reginald Roberts

“We went in to look at (repairs) and it was very disappointing.”

reach out to Central Office formally expressing concern.

Board of Education Chairman said via email on Friday, “It was all inspected and done to code. This was reviewed in-depth. There are no issues that I am aware of.”

According to a statement from Mayor Harry Rilling’s office, the School Governance Council reached out to the mayor on Thursdsay requesting that the structural integrity of the stage be checked, at which point it was determined that additional repairs would be needed.

“The Chief Building Inspector met with the Board of Education facilities personnel who assured him the stage will be repaired next week and will not affect the upcoming Candlelight Concert,” the statement said.

Requests for comment to Central Office, Norwalk Public Schools Director of Facilities & Maintenance William Hodel and Mayor Harry Rilling were not returned as of print time Friday afternoon.