The projected cost to repair the clock tower at Highlands Elementary School in Tarentum has gone up.
The school board has approved paying the masonry contractor, Marsa, about $5,150 more on top of the district’s original $60,800 contract.
Marsa was hired in August to restore the masonry of the tower, where water was entering the building and damaging classrooms below. The district approved another $31,282 contract with BurMac Roofing to replace the tower’s roof.
The additional cost is to fix cracks around the bay window area of the tower, said Chris Reiser, the district’s buildings and grounds supervisor.
Reiser said the cracks around the bay window were found after work began and following a wind-blown rain storm. Water made its way into the building in that area, where a room is directly below.
Work on the clock tower started in September. Access to the school has been restricted and relocated while work is underway.
Marsa asked for more time to finish the work.
