Repairs to the Huntington High School gym and the lower area beneath the gym that includes equipment rooms, locker rooms, coaches offices, showers, restrooms and the weight room and a film room are moving along after a flood caused extensive damage.
Physical education classes have been moved to various areas elsewhere in the high school building. A total of 16 varsity and junior varsity basketball games have been rescheduled to Walt Whitman, Harborfields and Elwood-John H. Glenn. Practices have moved to Washington Primary, J. Taylor Finley Middle School, Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School and Coindre Hall.
The entire 19,000 square foot gym floor, which dated to 1958 has been removed and is in the process of being replaced. Flooring, ceiling tiles and lighting fixtures in the lower level are also being replaced after the flood caused severe damage. Uniforms stored in equipment cages have been sent out for dry cleaning. Walls are being repaired and repainted.
Huntington UFSD Lead Operations Manager George Austin is overseeing the work, which involves various contractors and subcontractors. Repairs are being covered by the district’s insurance policy.
While the repairs are progressing, the district is using the downtime in gym use to complete other non-flood related projects, including painting the upper areas of the facility and refinishing bleacher stairs and railings.
Superintendent James W. Polansky and Assistant Superintendent Kathleen Acker, who oversees the buildings and grounds department have been frequent visitors to the gym since the repairs got underway. The two have tracked progress and also received regular updates from Mr. Austin, who has been on the scene seven days a week.
District officials said they are committed to providing students with a first rate facility when the project concludes sometime next month.
