ATHOL — People involved with the construction of Athol Community Elementary School are scheduled to meet at 9 a.m. today to pick a company to perform a video inspection of a recently installed six-inch sewer service line to the new school.
Douglas A. Walsh, the superintendent of the Athol Department of Public Works, wrote a letter stating his office advises the Athol-Royalston Regional School District reject the recent installation because attempts to inspect the pipe with a special camera failed due to deformities in the pipe. He said his office recommends repairs to allow for a successful video inspection.
Joel G. Seeley, the project manager, said at Monday’s School Building Committee that today’s meeting will determine which company is tapped to conduct the inspection. He said the Athol DPW uses one company and Springfield-based Fontaine Brothers, the project’s general contractor, uses another one.
The questionable pipe did not prevent the new school from receiving its occupancy certificate, signed by Brianna Skowyra, Athol’s inspector of buildings.
According to the certificate, the first floor is fit to hold 2,305 people and the second floor can hold 921.
The school opened its doors on Sept. 6. It has 31 classrooms, a room for physical therapy and occupational therapy (PT/OT), a gymnasium and a library/media room, among other features. Assistant Principal Anne Diaz has previously said the school’s enrollment is about 550 for pre-kindergarten through fourth grade.
The school is a consolidation of the Pleasant Street, Sanders Street and Riverbend schools.
You can reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 258. On Twitter: @DomenicPoli