Lockport Union-Sun & Journal — Work on the pool wall at Lockport High School is expected to done in the near future.

Throughout the summer, the district has had work done on the exterior of the walls surrounding the high school pool. The problem was moisture had gotten inside the walls, causing enough damage that bricks fell out. Part of the wall issue was the lack of a vapor barrier.

“The pool wall should be done within the next two weeks,” said Deborah Coder, assistant superintendent for finance.

The walls did not pose a safety issue inside the pool area. Outside, the area was roped off and is on the Locust Street side. The interior walls remained structurally sound, according to the district’s architect, Young Wright Architectural. The cost is covered primarily by state aid.

Lockport has had its share of issues with the high school pool. Most recently, the roof above the pool underwent a renovation to repair damage caused by moisture. The work on the pool roof was completed in 2009.

District officials added that roof work on Roy B. Kelley Elementary School will be completed by the end of September. The roof will not interfere with the first day of school, which is Wednesday for Lockport students.

The roof work is part of a recently voter-approved $18.9 million improvement project, which includes many fixups and repairs to be made throughout district buildings.

The project is aimed at making infrastructure improvements, most of which was brought up in a recent, state-mandated building condition survey.

In other district news:

• Last week Superintendent Michelle T. Bradley said community tours of the high school would be offered during the school’s open house on Sept. 26. People will have the chance to see all of the improvements made during the recent $23.5 million project, which completed work last fall. Tours will run from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

• Bradley also said Lockport City Schools received a two-year $50,000 grant from the Grigg Lewis Foundation, starting with the upcoming school year. The money will be used to pay for a family support center coordinator at the high school, which will assist families of students with high absenteeism. 

• The district was also informed in July by the state education department that it, as well as all of the Lockport schools, had been identified as “in good standing.” The designation means the district and each of the individual schools have met state requirements in student test scores and graduation rates.