News Photo by Julie Riddle Jerry Unwin, maintenance worker at Pied Piper School in Alpena, on Friday explains damage caused to the school’s building by a buildup of roof ice over the winter. Much of the ice has melted in recent days, Unwin said.

ALPENA–Alpena-Montmorency-Alcona Educational Service District officials during a facility committee meeting on Thursday expressed frustration over leaks in their newly installed roof at Pied Piper School.

The AMA ESD spent a little over $94,200 from its special education fund balance for its leaky roof to be replaced as part of facility upgrades to the school. While the previous leak appears to be fixed, educational service district officials suspect the new leak stems from the old problem.

AMA ESD Superintendent Scott Reynolds said there was “significant” ice build up on the roof this winter. Reynolds told the committee he was disappointed the roof still leaked. Wolgast Corporation is the construction manager overseeing the project.

“We’ve been reassured they’re going to work with us to get this wrapped up, but it’s like buying a new car and only getting two wheels on it – it’s just not acceptable,” Reynolds said. “Wolgast has vowed to stand by this work and make sure it’s completed properly, which is important to hear.”

Reynolds on Friday said he since met with Wolgast Corporation officials and they will work collaboratively with the architect to investigate the problem further.

Luke Gerhart, project manager with Wolgast Corporation, said on Friday they have done projects with the educational service district over the last couple of years. He said Pied Piper School was constructed in the 1970s and they have previously replaced the boilers and upgraded the lighting.

“With the building age as it is, there’s a number of issues with it all the time, but we’re just working with them to pick off the items they want addressed. We did not discuss insulation in that attic structure with them previously,” Gerhart said.

Gerhart said because of the ice build up that occurred this winter, the insulation will be the next scope of work the company will manage for the educational service district.

He said insulation and ventilation are important because they control how much heat escapes from a building.

AMA ESD officials were told the building may not be properly insulated, which is why the leaks occurred.

Reynolds said the leaks happen when the snow melts and refreezes. The ice acts as a dam and diverts the water and the diverted water then makes its way into the building, he said.

Jerry Unwin, who performs maintenance at the school, said he was told there is about 4.5 inches of insulation installed on the roof deck. Unwin said he assumed there was 10 to 12 inches of installation up there, which would have been the proper amount of insulation.

Unwin said price estimates are being put together and that there are a couple ways to explore how more insulation could be installed.

He said there is an insulation spray foam, which would require the school’s recently renovated ceiling work to be removed, or insulation could be put on top of the ceiling tile. The spray foam insulation would take two months to install and is incredibly expensive, he said.

AMA Superintendent Reynolds said this is not the situation the educational service district wants to be in. He said any insulation related work would likely undergo a bidding process.