Snowstorm damages wall at Polson elementary school

Officials with Polson School District started the New Year with a surprise when they learned one of their buildings is in need of repair following the recent winter storm.

Superintendent Rex Weltz said the south wall of Linderman Elementary is bowing from the stress of snow that accumulated over New Year’s weekend. Weltz said winds blew from the north off Flathead Lake, rolling over the building and causing drifting snow to settle on the south of the building over the gymnasium.

He confirmed there is no danger to students and faculty.

“At this point, we don’t believe there’s a fear of catastrophic failure with the gym coming down; it’s an exterior wall that’s not responsible for holding” the weight of the snow, Weltz explained.

On Monday, Weltz said a maintenance supervisor alerted him of the bowing wall. A structure engineer was called to assess the situation. Paradigm V2 Architects P.C. out of Missoula also looked at the wall.

“What I want to do is remedy it right now, to secure that wall, so we can get back to our gym,” Weltz said.

This summer construction on a more permanent fix can be completed, he added.

Weltz said the contractor, Bitterroot Welding & Hydraulics, also out of Missoula, is ready to begin the repair work but the project cannot start until the structural engineer completes drawings.

Currently, there is no estimate as to how much the repair will cost. Weltz said “it’s potentially an insurance issue.” PayneWest Insurance, the district’s insurance provider, will determine the official cause of the bowing wall.

“They’re going to pay real close attention to the structural engineer” to determine a cause, Weltz said.

Monies will be pulled from the maintenance fund, if needed, Weltz added.

Crews are anticipated to be out as early as Friday to assess the building, Weltz said, and he’s hoping for repair work to begin Monday, Jan. 8.

Linderman Elementary was built in the 1950s and has seen renovations through the years, Weltz said.