Schneider Electric reports progress at Lark Hindle renovation; district told of termite damage discovery
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Summary
Schneider Electric told the Lake County Schools board the Lark Hindle renovation is ahead of schedule, with demolition, drainage, fire alarm and building-automation work mostly complete; contractors reported termite and longstanding water damage found in demolished locker-room wings and said an engineer will assess repair options.
Schneider Electric gave a progress update to the Lake County Schools Board on renovations at Lark Hindle (the contractor spelled the school name in the presentation materials). Rich Price, construction project manager for Schneider Electric, said crews have demolished an older, deteriorated add-on that contained hazardous/older materials, completed concrete repairs near the library and office, installed weatherproofing and partial brick work, replaced fire-alarm devices in the renovated areas and begun building automation (digital thermostat/HVAC) installations.
Price said workers removed problematic sidewalks, repaired a sewer line while the ground was open, regraded the area to reduce ponding and planned new gutters and drainage that will move storm water away from the building. He said the contractor matched existing brick on a rebuilt wall and would install new doors and sidewalks; work is intended to eliminate chronic water infiltration and mud alongside the building. "We're going to grade everything away from the school so we don't have those ponding issues anymore," Price said.
The contractor reported the project is generally ahead of schedule and committed to finish before classes begin; he said rain slowed work but the team can add weekend shifts to meet the schedule. Price also alerted the board that during demolition of the locker-room wings crews discovered significant termite and old water damage under plaster ceilings that the team did not expect. An engineer was brought in to assess structural impacts and to propose repair options and costs. "We found some very concerning and very, apparent termite damage and some old water damage to the point that's causing some structural issues in those 2 areas now," Price said, and he said he would present options and potential cost impacts once the engineer's assessment is complete.
Board members asked that the administration and contractor present recommended options and any potential cost implications for the district at a follow-up meeting. The contractor repeated a commitment to transparency and safety during the work. The presentation included photographs of before-and-after work and a promise to keep the site secure and to communicate any safety concerns to district contacts.
