Students relocated due to flood damage at 2-year-old school

SOMERTON — About 125 students have been relocated to new classrooms at Tierra Del Sol Elementary School while repairs take place to rooms damaged by rain last month, the Somerton Elementary School District says.

A rain gutter on a roof became detached during the storm, causing water to get into a building. It soaked the walls of five regular classrooms and two classrooms used in the migrant education program at the school, 1002 S. Somerton Ave.

“There was significant damage,” said Jerry Cabrera, director of human resources and special programs for the district. “The water may have come up about two inches. A company is replacing the walls.

“The school was built about two years ago, and that part of the rain gutter of the roof may not have been attached securely.

“The situation was under control from the beginning,” Cabrera added. “That same day we took action, and the insurance company that covers these risk was contacted.”

Cabrera said no mold was found in the school but that the district contracted with the Phoenix firm Dominion Environmental Consultants to do air quality testing that uncovered high humidity in the affected classrooms.

He said concerns about air quality prompted the district to move not only those students who occupied the affected classrooms but those in areas of the humidity.

He said the repair and cleanup work is expected to take five weeks.

“There were some parents who contacted the school, and we have already sent out a letter explaining the situation. We are into a (repair) period of five weeks, and then we will be able to return the students to their classrooms.”

Once remodeling is completed, the school will do followup air quality tests to make sure the classrooms are safe enough to be reoccupied, Cabrera said.