THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 26, 1995 TAG: 9503240188
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 09 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TONYA WOODS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
Termites feasting on wooden arches in the auditorium at Kellam High have forced school officials to shut down the hall and relocate a major drama production.
The damage is estimated at $85,000, including the cost of repairs from a minor termite infestation in the school's library.
Anthony L. Arnold, director of facilities planning and construction for city schools, said the auditorium's structure was badly damaged and keeping it open could have been dangerous.
``In that auditorium there are laminated wood arches built down into the foundation, and the arches were very damaged,'' he said. ``Luckily the damage in the library was cosmetic, so there was no threat of danger and it was able to stay open.''
The auditorium, which was closed in February, should be repaired and reopened by the first week of April. No decision has been made about when the library will be repaired.
The problem was first discovered in November by library staff member Dottie B. Laverdiere. She noticed horizontal lines embedded in one of the library's plywood walls.
``It wasn't like a large hole or anything nearly as big as that,'' Laverdiere said. ``I knew there was definitely something wrong, but I had no idea it was termites.''
Laverdiere's discovery led to an inspection of the entire school for termites.
Arnold said the auditorium's problems were easy to detect from that routine inspection.
Activities usually conducted in the auditorium now are taking place in the cafeteria, gym and hallways.
``It's forced us to be a little ingenious in relocating,'' said Kellam Principal Albert J. Williams. ``It wasn't an easy loss, but where there's a will, there's a way.''
The drama team's production of ``The Sound of Music'' was moved to Landstown Middle School. Most of the preparations for the play took place at Landstown.
``We usually do everything on the stage in the auditorium,'' said drama director Tammy G. Smith. ``We had to build scenery in parents' garages, paint the scenery in hallways and make costumes in the cafeteria.''
The musical debuted at Landstown Middle March 16 and ended Saturday.
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA BEACH SCHOOLS TERMITES by CNB