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Oakland SD 1 moves to seek grant funding for inspections after insurer flags 50-year-old wooden trusses
Summary
District administrators said reinsurers are now requiring engineered inspections of wooden bow-string and glue-laminated trusses older than 50 years; the board heard that applying for a $25,000 TAP grant to fund inspections is time-sensitive and that adverse findings could trigger costly repairs and insurance disputes.
Oakland School District 1 said Feb. 11 it will seek rapid funding to inspect older wooden roof trusses after reinsurers tightened coverage rules following recent building collapses.
Superintendent Jeff Clark told the board that reinsurers are refusing to insure certain wooden glue-laminated or bow-string trusses over 50 years old unless an engineer certifies them. "They said we are no longer going to insure anything any glue laminated beams or bow string wooden trusses that are over 50 years old unless they're inspected and...by an engineer," Clark said, describing the insurer position.
Clark recommended applying this week for a TAP grant that would provide about $25,000 to pay for engineering inspections. He said the district has already sent photos to its insurance agent and that engineers will need to examine specific locations, including the Lincoln trusses, the shop and a covered play area, to determine whether they meet insurer definitions.
The superintendent cautioned that an engineers report could create an obligation to repair. "If the engineer says, 'No, these are not good. Here's what needs to be fixed,' then we as a district are automatically on the hook to fix that," Clark said, adding that the district could not continue placing students and staff in structures deemed unsafe.
Board members discussed the time pressure: the TAP grant application closes this Friday, Clark said, and he recommended applying and then using the funds to complete inspections. He also noted uncertainty over whether insurers will accept engineer certifications in all cases: "Ive heard...we did all that, we got it approved by the engineer, and then [the reinsurer] said we're still not covering it based on a stamping of the engineer," he said.
The board did not take a final motion on the grant during the meeting; Clark said he would apply immediately and follow up with board action as needed. Next steps include identifying which trusses meet the reinsurers described criteria, scheduling engineering inspections if the TAP grant is awarded, and clarifying with the insurer what documentation would secure coverage.
If inspections find unsafe conditions, the district will face choices about repair timing and funding; Clark noted the potential expense of major structural work and that the TAP grant would only fund inspections, not repairs.
The board discussed how inspections might be scheduled and whether certifications would be time-limited, with Clark saying a stamp could be valid for years but might require re-certification later. He also said the district had already completed seismic work on several buildings and would prioritize trusses that appear most likely to meet the reinsurers exclusion criteria.
The superintendent said he would report back with inspection results and any recommended capital work needed to address unsafe trusses.
