AMHERST — Work is expected to begin next month on replacing the water-damaged gymnasium floor at Amherst Regional High School, which has left the girls volleyball team without its home court and could affect the girls and boys basketball seasons.
Sean Mangano, finance director for the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District, said Wednesday that a request for qualifications advertisement for a designer has been published.
“The RFQ will allow the district to procure a designer to develop the repair specifications, help evaluate contractors and supervise the completion of the work,” Mangano said.
Once the designer is selected, likely by the end of October, the schools will then put out an invitation for bids for a contractor to handle the work.
“We are working as fast as possible to get the floor repaired while adhering to state procurement laws,” Mangano said.
The damage came after a water pipe broke during the last weekend in July in a bathroom near the gym. Water from the pipe poured out for a period of time, leaving inches of water standing on the basketball court, and causing its surface to bow and become discolored. A decision was made to replace the court, rather than attempt repairs.
Since the damage was discovered, Mangano said the schools have been working with the insurance company to assess damage and get preliminary cost estimates, which will be finalized when bids from contractors are received.
The precise timeline for repairs will also be known once a contractor is selected.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
