The main gymnasium at Pasco High School is expected to be out of service for most of the upcoming school year while the roof is replaced.
An engineering team -- hired to do an analysis of the roof after maintenance crews found ceiling tiles out of place -- determined there are cracks in the trusses.
The trusses support the roof and date back to when the school was built in the 1950s, said John Morgan, planning principal for the district.
The project is estimated to cost about $3.5 million, with the money coming from the district's capital projects budget.
The school has another gym with two basketball courts that won't be affected by the roof replacement. That means there still will be space for physical education classes. Officials also plan to take advantage of the outdoor fields when the weather is good.
"It'll be a little tight, but we can make it work," said Le Burns, athletic director.
There also won't be nearly as many Pasco High students to accommodate because the district's second comprehensive high school -- Chiawana -- is opening in the fall.
Officials also are finding other spots for sporting events -- such as basketball and volleyball games -- that normally would be held in the main gym.
The varsity and junior varsity home games, for example, will be at Chiawana in 2009-10, Burns said.
Working around the roof replacement "is going to be a challenge, no question," Morgan said.
But district leaders -- especially those at Pasco High and Chiawana -- have rolled up their sleeves and are working together so students feel the least impact, Morgan said.
Lydig Construction -- which already is at Pasco High working on the second phase of a renovation project that included building the school's new cafeteria and student mall -- is doing the roof replacement, Morgan said.
Workers already have started on the "soft demolition" of removing banners, scoreboards and similar items, he said.
The engineering team was hired to perform an analysis of the roof after maintenance crews discovered ceiling tiles that were out of whack. The crews were working on the gym floor, which was damaged in May when a ball hit a sprinkler during a P.E. class, causing flooding.
-- Sara Schilling: 509-582-1402; sschilling@tricityherald.com
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