Lakes High School gym floor won't be ready in time for graduation

Clear skies, low humidity and a gentle breeze would be perfect for graduates and their parents attending the outdoor ceremony at Lakes Community High School in Lake Villa.

But if it rains on May 27, those hundreds of people will have to drive to Antioch Community High School instead of moving into to the gym at Lakes.

The main gym has been closed for nearly four months after school officials discovered the wooden floor was warping after being damaged by seeping water.

Administrators assessed the damage and quickly put bids out for the repairs. After agreeing to a bid by Minnesota-based Haldeman-Homme, School Superintendent Jay Sabatino said the contractor realized they underestimated the job and came back with a higher price.

The bid was pulled and a new contractor has been chosen, but the delay means the floor won't be ready until mid-June, Sabatino said.

"They came back with a cost $25,000 to $30,000 higher that the original amount," Sabatino said. "We found that unacceptable and the bid was pulled."

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

The district's insurance policy covers liability for injuries and other issues, but not structural repairs. So the $100,000 will come from the operations fund, Sabatino said.

Physical education classes, basketball, wrestling and volleyball games have been played in alternate locations since the damage was discovered.

Sabatino said the decision on whether to move the event to Antioch High School will be made in the morning on May 27.

Parents have been instructed to call the school office that day for word on where the graduation will take place.