Storm damages Skyline Elementary while recovering from Hurricane Ian

Reporter: Annette Montgomery Writer: Paul Dolan
Published: Updated:
Storm damage to Skyline Elementary. CREDIT: WINK News

Concerns about a Southwest Florida school after their roof, which Hurricane Ian already damaged, was damaged again by the nasty weather this week.

Contractors are trying to figure out how bad the damage is. They worry if a little rain can rip part of a tarp off the roof at Skyline Elementary in Cape Coral, what will happen when our seasonal afternoon thunderstorms happen more frequently.

“If we had even just another bad thunderstorm, I mean, what would happen,” Sarah Bozman, a parent of two children at Skyline Elementary, asked.

Brittany Digiacomo, another parent of a child at the school, is similarly concerned.

“Because of the heavy rainfall we had yesterday, it basically rained in the school and flooded the sidewalks,” Digiacomo said.

Tuesday afternoon, the tarp appears to be secured to the roof again. A Lee County schools spokesman admitted high winds compromised the tarp, causing the leak.

Skyline Elementary is a part of school board member Samuel Fisher’s district.

“I did reach out to the administration, which were already aware of that and are currently in the process of handling it, making sure everything is secure right now,” Fisher said.

Hurricane Ian damaged the roof to the point it must be replaced. Until that happens, parents WINK News spoke with said Monday’s rain has them worried about what might happen if there’s a severe thunderstorm or worse.

“Safety needs to come first. And that’s including, you know, the air quality and being able to go to school in the rain because these are normal things that should be required for the school to provide, and I just feel like we rushed it after the hurricane, and now we’re in the position we are,” Bozman said.

Lee County schools are currently seeking bids to replace the roof. The hope is construction will begin as soon as the district awards the contract.

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