It's been over a month since December 17, when 82 mph winds tore through Park City. In the moment, we were focused on immediate safety. Now, we are dealing with the reality of a long cleanup.
I know seeing the fences and crews every day gets old. I want to give you a straight answer on why they are still there, what is happening with the money, and to say thank you to the folks helping us out.
The biggest frustration is the delay. When the roof peeled back, it exposed vermiculite insulation from the original 1951 build and the 1971 reroofing project. We know now that this material contains asbestos. That changed this from a simple roof repair to a regulated abatement job.
It feels slow, but we can't just sweep this up. If we rush and crush that material, fibers get into the air. We are following strict EPA and DEQ protocols to keep that from happening. We are taking the time to make sure that when the fences come down, the school and the surrounding yards are truly safe.
Let's talk about the price tag. With cleanup estimates hovering around $1.5 million, I know folks are worried about what this means for their taxes. Here is the bottom line: the district is fully insured. Our policy covers the roof damage and the asbestos removal, and our deductible for this entire mess is $2,500. We are not facing a budget crisis here; the coverage is doing precisely what it's supposed to do.
I also want to acknowledge that this hasn't been just a construction challenge; it's been an instructional one. Our teachers didn't just have to move classrooms; they had to completely reconstruct their lesson plans. Moving between remote learning and direct instruction requires extensive preparation and extra hours. We also made it a priority to ensure that daily instruction continued for our Special Education students. Consistency is vital to their success, and our staff works tirelessly to ensure that those services are not interrupted.
Just as critical has been our classified staff—our secretaries, paraprofessionals, custodians, and cooks. They are the backbone of our daily operations. They have fielded the calls, managed the physical cleanup, and figured out how to serve lunch in a completely new location. This district simply doesn't run without them.
As for the building progress, we have two timelines running in parallel. The roof repairs will be mostly completed this week, except for two HVAC exhaust fans that are currently en route. However, the abatement work inside the school is a separate process. That work is meticulous and will continue well into February.
We certainly haven't done this alone. While insurance pays the bills, it doesn't find you classrooms or a gym to practice and play home games in.
We needed a place for our primary grades to have direct instruction, and the community stepped up immediately. Thank you to the Baptist Church, the Lutheran Church, the Park City Volunteer Fire Department, the Park City Civic Center, and the Park City Water and Sewer Board for finding room for us.
Our athletes have also had a season without a home court. A huge thank you to the schools in Laurel, Fromberg, Bridger, Red Lodge, Joliet, and Lockwood, as well as the Special K Ranch. They opened their doors so our kids could keep practicing and playing.
Finally, a word about our students: they have been bused to various locations, sat in temporary classrooms, and dealt with significant uncertainty. Through it all, they have shown incredible resilience. They are the reason we are working so hard to get this right.
We have a bit more road to travel before things are back to normal, but we are getting there. Thank you for your patience and for looking out for our students.
Dave Whitesell, Superintendent