LAKE MOSES – The ongoing renovation of Groff Elementary School is making significant progress as the Moses Lake School District takes action to address structural deficiencies in the building, according to Director of Public Relations Ryan Shannon.
The district has actively removed elements that raise safety concerns, including completely removing the gymnasium floor.
In an official statement released on October 31, the district confirmed that the gym's previous floor was completely removed due to necessary mitigation measures.
“The original gym floor cannot be reused due to the extensive issues associated with the structure of the gym and the flooring itself,” said Shannon. “To fix these issues, our team had to remove the entire floor, but we were able to preserve the center 'Gator' logo panel from the former flooring.”
This plaque, a symbol of the school's pride, will be placed on the wall of the new gymnasium and will provide a connection to the school's history. Current Groff students will be invited to sign the plaque as a commemorative gesture.
Construction work at Groff Elementary is varied and targets a variety of topics, from roofing to drainage systems.
On October 24, crews focused on addressing improvements related to the metal roofing system.
“This work is part of our ongoing effort to resolve identified construction issues and ensure the long-term safety, durability and performance of the building,” said Shannon.
Crews began the month by removing gym flooring and other structural elements needed to address foundation deficiencies. On Oct. 10, the district reported that selective demolition work was being performed on the gymnasium so that workers could more effectively investigate the underlying problems.
“Removing the gym floor allowed us to come in and begin to address issues within the foundation system that supports what is called the concrete masonry unit,” Shannon said. “This is a critical step in strengthening the foundation and preventing future facility concerns.”
External work was also a priority. Updates released throughout the month highlighted drainage improvements and excavation work as essential tasks to meet Washington Energy Code standards and address insulation issues.
“Each milestone brings us closer to restoring Groff Elementary School safely and efficiently,” Shannon said. “We appreciate our community’s continued patience and support as this important work continues.”
After gym flooring is removed, the construction team addresses concerns not only with the floors, but also with the HVAC and electrical systems. To facilitate the work, the building is currently running on temporary electricity. To ensure optimal conditions for ongoing construction work, an additional HVAC system was set up.
Additionally, Shannon confirmed that there is still an extensive list of issues that need to be addressed, all of which are critical to the overall safety of Groff Elementary.
“We're just continuing to go through the long list of items that need to be mitigated and it's going well – progress is as expected,” he said. “Our goal is to ensure Groff Elementary is safe, strong and ready to serve students for years to come.”
Shannon also emphasized the importance of clear communication with the community given the rumors circulating about the gym.
“There have been some inaccurate reports suggesting that we might reuse the gym floor,” he said. “That is not the case. It is important for us to make it clear that the floor system had to be completely replaced for safety reasons.”
As the project progresses, updates will continue to be shared via weekly blog posts and social media.
“This is an important way for us to keep community members informed about what’s happening,” Shannon said. “The renovations at Groff Elementary are an important investment in our students’ futures, ensuring their learning environment is safe and conducive to academic success.”
Groff Elementary School after the entire floor was removed. There were problems with the concrete masonry, the floor's foundation, resulting in the district removing all of the flooring and planning to replace it before reopening.
A look under the floor of the Groff Elementary gymnasium. According to public relations director Ryan Shannon, moisture was detected beneath the floor.