Lakes will pay out of pocket for gym floor repair

The Lake Villa area high school district will have to pay for repairs to Lakes Community High School's damaged gym floor after learning its insurance company won't cover the costs.

The gym has been closed for nearly two months since staff discovered water damaged floor boards in late January.

It's not clear yet whether the project will include replacing the entire floor or repairing the damaged portions. The total cost might exceed $85,000 said Antioch-Lake Villa Area High School District 117 Superintendent Jay Sabatino.

"We were taken aback by the decision of the insurance company," Sabatino said.

Administrators are facing added pressure to have the work completed in time for the May 27 graduation ceremony.

After weeks of tests, inspectors have determined water vapors trapped between the concrete slab and the floor have seeped into the wood causing major damage. The school was built four and a half years ago.

Sabatino said the insurance policy covers liability for injuries and other issues, but not structural repairs.

"The cost of the investigation have been paid by the insurance company, but they will not pay for the repairs," he said. "We will use money from the education fund for this unexpected and unfunded repair bill."

While Sabatino is glad the cause of the seepage has been determined and will be fixed, he's concerned about meeting the important graduation deadline.

"We hope to have the gym fixed before Lakes' graduation, but have no guarantees due to the nature of the construction business," he said.

After bids are submitted, the school board will meet and award the repair job to the "lowest responsible bidder," Sabatino said.

Physical education classes, basketball, wrestling and volleyball games have been played in alternate locations. But with spring sports under way and most of those events held outside, some of the pressure to find other venues is gone, Sabatino said.