Pataskala Elementary to reopen after ceiling collapse

PATASKALA - Pataskala Elementary has been cleared to reopen Tuesday after pieces of the ceiling fell last week.

Ben Richards, a spokesman for Southwest Licking Local Schools, said an inspection of the building by a structural engineer on Monday revealed a previously installed ceiling patch in the 1908 section of the building failed, which caused the area to collapse. 

The reason for the collapse was not known. The inspection revealed no additional patches similar to the one that failed, Richards said.

"The structural engineer has assured us that everything else is fine," he said.

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Pieces of the ceiling fell during the school day Friday. No students were reported injured.

That area of the building will remain closed to staff and students while the district wraps up the school year, Richards said. Friday is the last day for students.

The school will open and run on a regular schedule on Tuesday.

Arrangements are being made for the students to have class in a different space, Richards said.

The building houses the district's second- and third-grade students.

"We're just happy that the kids can return to school and finish out the school year," he said.

No plans have been set for fixing that portion of the ceiling, but Richards said that will happen in the coming days.

Richards said previously the building levy passed in 2017 includes money to renovate the three existing elementary buildings. He said renovations, however, will not be scheduled until after new buildings are built, which will probably take "about three years." 

mdevito@gannett.com

740-328-8513

Twitter: @MariaDeVito13