Nicolet workers race to finish

Glendale — Restoration and school officials expect there will still be work to do for a period of time after school starts, but District Administrator Rick Monroe said classes will start at Nicolet High School on Sept. 13.

Crews from Paul Davis Restoration Service and district staff are working feverishly to complete as much work as possible at the high school, which sustained damage to 80 percent of the building as a result of the July 22 downpour.

Monroe said the building is beginning to take shape as contractors install the carpet and tile that filled 6½ semitrailers. The wood flooring that will be used on the gym and dance studio floors is in addition to that.

Director of Facilities Services Brian Reiels said floor installers took over the building Aug. 21-22.

"They asked the rest of us to leave," Reiels said. "Not much was getting done with other people walking around in the building."

Thirty-seven floor installers made great progress over the weekend, he said.

"The amount of work that has been done in a short period of time is miraculous," Reiels said. "But we have a long way to go."

The replacement of the electrical system is done and new boilers have been ordered but will not be installed for the start of school.

"We are hoping for a mild fall," Reiels said.

About two feet of drywall on the first floor, soaked by the flood waters, had to be removed and replaced, and then the walls had to be repainted.

"We put a priority on getting the offices fixed," Monroe said. Cardinal Stritch University provided space for Nicolet office staff until last Friday.

"We knew the university would need the lab space they were letting us use," he said.

The high school, district and business offices are back at the building, although not all the offices are completely ready.

Monroe, for instance, does not have a phone or computer.

In the flurry of activity right after the flood, the restoration crews packed up classrooms and offices, labeling each box.

"We are telling our teachers they may need to be patient," Monroe said.

For instance, social studies teachers have cubicles in a common office area, plus their classrooms. Boxes for the office area don't specify more than "social studies office."

When school opens Sept. 13, J. Murphy of Paul Davis said there will still be three main tasks remaining.

The auditorium, the main gym floor and possibly the cafeteria floor will likely be on the "to do" list.

"The auditorium will be extremely meticulous and time-consuming," he said. "It is easy to close off that and work in that area."

If the material that is now stored in the cafeteria can be moved elsewhere in the building, he expects to have the floor installed.

Business Manager Jeff Dellutri said the school's insurance policy is providing replacement coverage for most items lost in the flood.

"The asbestos work was limited to $50,000 and we are well over that," he said. The district will apply for FEMA funds to cover costs that are not covered by insurance. "We will get 75 percent covered by FEMA and another 12 percent by the state."

The remaining 13 percent will be covered locally, likely by fund balance.

Athletic Director Kirk Krychowiak said the athletic schedule has been adjusted. Home events that will not be able to be held because of the ongoing restoration will be away events.