Gary’s tornado-battered Frankie Woods McCullough Academy will soon undergo about $553,000 in restoration work, primarily in its gymnasium which suffered most of the damage in the March 19 storm.
On Wednesday, the Gary School Board awarded three contracts for work on the school at 3757 W. 21st Ave.
Powers & Sons Construction, of Gary, received a $477,400 contract for general construction; Safe Environmental, of Highland, will remove black mold from surfaces and duct work for $13,500 and CSK Architects of Crown Point will oversee the design for $62,000.
The tornado hit the school in late afternoon after students had already left for the day. It ripped off a large section of roofing over the gymnasium, inundating the area with water.
McCullough Principal Sharmayne McKinney said she got a phone call after the storm moved through and went back to the school to see water shooting out of the roof.
The school board declared an emergency to speed up the repairs and chief financial officer Linda Zaborowski said the district received three competitive bids for general construction and mold remediation.
She said the district also received a substantial discount on flooring through a statewide cooperative purchasing group.
Tim Ervin, of Powers & Sons, hoped the work could be nearly complete by the start of school in August but cautioned the roofing work could take longer.
Before work begins, the mold will be treated and killed throughout the area, an official said.
Following the tornado, about 500 McCullough students spent about three weeks at the Gary Area Career Center before returning to McCullough after the gymnasium section was cordoned off.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.