New Elementary Gym Floor Pushed for on
WETHERSFIELD - Replacing the Emerson Williams Elementary School gym floor has been on the Board of Education's radar for quite some time, and now parents whose children attend the school have joined the push to have it funded through the district's Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).

       It's long overdue," said Martin Malicki, an Emerson Williams parent. "It's been there [on the Board's list of priorities for CIP projects] for a long time. The fact that they put it on the list and nothing's been done is not a good thing."

       Malicki attended a couple of Town Council meetings in order to raise the issue during the public comments segment.

       "No matter how loud the Board yells, if you don't vote for the money to fix the floor, it doesn't matter," he told councilors at their Dec. 1 meeting.

       The floor--made up of composite tile--has been literally coming apart, with tiles popping up in different areas of the gymnasium, according to Malicki.

       "There are areas near the stage where tiles are missing completely," he said.

       Emerson Williams is the only school in Wethersfield without a hardwood floor.

       "In my opinion, that's more dangerous than any other floor in town," Malicki said. "The surface is harder so if a kid falls, they're more likely to get hurt."

       The floor's mastic has also been found to contain asbestos, although without it being friable--airborne and powdery--it is not supposed to pose a health hazard.

       "That's not the case here, but I have my reservations with tiles coming off, tiles breaking apart," Malicki said. "You're getting some abrasive wear and tear so I don't know how anybody can guarantee that."

       Superintendent of Schools Michael Emmett does not think the asbestos is friable, but plans to make the floor replacement, and the abatement that will occur in the process, a top priority this coming budget session.

       "Not only am I going to abate that, but the cafeteria floor as well," Emmett said. "If I'm going to enclose and contain, I'd be foolish not to include the cafeteria. It's much more cost effective than doing contain and abate twice."

       Both Emmett and Malicki agreed that the floor, which has had its repairs in parts over the years, needs to be replaced.

       "It is a tile floor on a concrete base," Emmett said. "It's certainly not conducive to being a quality gym floor."

       What that will cost is unclear at this time. Last year's projections for the project called for $175,000, Town Manager Jeff Bridges said at the Dec. 1 Council meeting.

       "Given the overrun at the high school, I think we should give that number a hard look," Bridges said. "But we'll work with The Board of Education."

       Bridges was referring to the $10 million in extra costs for the Wethersfield High School renovation project. The overrun-which was partially related to the unexpected need for additional PCB remediation-was covered through a Connecticut Department of Education space waiver.

       Emmett admitted that he's not sure if this will be the year that the Board gets the funding it needs for the floor project.

       "It's one of those big ticket items far beyond what our operating budget would support," he said. "Nine times out of 10 we get funded for a fraction of what we need for buildings. That's a significant challenge we face."
MORE WETHERSFIELD NEWS  |  STORY BY MARK DIPAOLA  |  Jan 07 2015  |  COMMENTS?