Frequently Asked Questions
We encourage community members with questions to view our updates and these frequently asked questions and answers. Kyrene is committed to sharing accurate information in the community. We will share facts and information as they become available so that misinformation can be addressed.
1. Who is working to determine the cause of the collapse?
A forensic structural engineering company is on-site working to find the cause of the collapse. When the full investigation is complete, that information will be shared with the Kyrene community.
2. What is the inspection plan for checking all the rest of Kyrene’s schools?
Superintendent Dr. David Schauer has directed the Kyrene Facilities staff to consult with independent engineering experts to develop a plan for an assessment of all our school buildings as soon as possible to ensure the safety of all our facilities.
3. Without knowing the exact cause of the collapse, how does Kyrene know the remainder of the building is safe for occupancy?
The Waggoner multi-purpose room is a free-standing building. The roof of the MPR was not attached to the surrounding buildings. The structural engineering company conducted tests on 3 areas of the roof that were well separated on the large built up roof system to the east, south and west of the MPR. At all 3 locations it was found that one roof system and no re-roofing was in place. Further, the County Health Inspector and State Fire Marshall provided the clearance and deemed the campus as safe to resume school. Kyrene staff is also continuing to work closely with the City of Tempe building inspectors as the investigation continues.
4. Some Kyrene Middle School buildings appear to be the same construction as the Waggoner Multi-Purpose Room. Are those buildings being checked for possible problems?
While most of the buildings appear to be of the same vintage at KMS and Waggoner, the majority of them were newly constructed in 1995. The Multi-Purpose Room at Waggoner was built in 1987. The J building and the Admin/Library buildings at Kyrene Middle School are two buildings that were part of the original construction from the 1970’s. Structural Engineers are inspecting these two KMS buildings to determine if there are any concerns and, if so, the proper course of action.
5. When will there be a meeting to discuss the situation?
On March 17, Dr. Schauer met with the Parent Superintendent Council and informed them of the situation at Waggoner.
On March 18, Dr. Schauer and staff met with the Waggoner PTO to present information and answer questions from the community.
On Tuesday, March 24, 5:00 - 7:00 pm, a Governing Board Study Session will be held to discuss the roof collapse and to share related information. Meeting location is Kyrene District Office, Ben Furlong Center, 8700 South Kyrene Road, Tempe AZ 85284.
6. During construction, how will vehicles enter and exit the site?
All contractors involved in this project have been given very specific instructions to not enter from the east side of the campus, and to only enter from the west side of Kyrene Middle School. If KMS or Waggoner students are present when trucks arrive, the school will have someone escort the vehicles to the construction area or wait for the students to clear the area before proceeding. We have also identified a specific area for contractors to park between the basketball court and the ball field that allows students to walk to the tent for lunch without weaving through construction vehicles.
7. Is it true that a fire or roof collapse occurred previously at Waggoner and/or KMS Multi-purpose rooms?
The roof that collapsed in 1995 was the Kyrene Middle School MPR roof after it had caught on fire and burned to the ground. Waggoner’s roof did not collapse in 1995.
8. Given the age of the building, was asbestos found in the debris?
No. The debris from the roof collapse has been tested and was found to be clear of any asbestos. In accordance with the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, Kyrene does have a plan in place to deal with asbestos and any potential issues. A copy of this plan is located in each school office and in the Kyrene Facilities Department. To keep the plan current, a complete survey and inspection of all Kyrene schools is conducted every six months by properly-trained and accredited individuals.
9. What kind of building inspections occur at the Kyrene schools?
As required by Arizona School Facilities Board (SFB), Kyrene School District Facilities Department staff members hold quarterly visual interior and exterior inspections of all buildings following the guidelines set by the Arizona School Facilities Board.
The Arizona School Facilities Board inspects schools every five years to ensure the buildings meet minimum state guidelines. Roofs are inspected to ensure they are weather tight and capable of being maintained. The inspector goes inside the school to ensure there’s no evidence of leaks, such as stained tiles. The rooftop is also inspected to ensure there are no visible cracks and that drains are in working order. If employees note any abnormalities, Kyrene contracts with a structural engineering firm to assess the situation and to determine a course of action.
10. Which types of ongoing safety measures will be put into place and on what timeline? For example, will the building be inspected repeatedly for mold after clean-up?
East Valley Disaster Services has been contracted to clean up, remediate and advise us on what is necessary for replacement. This agency specializes in these kinds of situations and will work with us to determine when we can once again occupy the affected areas. Kyrene School District has a regular air quality maintenance program.
11. What is the extent of the damage? Are the music rooms intact?
There are twelve rooms that received water damage. It is too early to know the exact extent of the damage. We don’t yet know when we would be able to return to any of these rooms. The music rooms were not damaged, however there is currently no power available in these rooms.
12. What were the criteria used to determine that the building was safe to reenter?
Beginning in the early morning hours on Monday, March 16, experts were on location at the school inspecting the entire building to determine whether or not it would be safe for occupancy. Those involved were professionals from State Fire Marshall, East Valley Disaster Services, Tempe Fire Department, structural engineers, the Maricopa County Environmental Services office and the Tempe Fire Marshall.
13. Have the students received any age-appropriate counseling or presentation assuring them they are safe at school and they don’t need to worry about roofs falling in on them?
Every teacher at Waggoner has had a conversation with their students regarding the roof collapse and to assure them that the adults are working on this situation and that they are safe at school. District Psychologists are available to assist any students who need counseling support. Furthermore, the district has contracted with an outside counseling provider to provide additional counseling services if necessary.
14. How will wind affect the portable structure?
The portable outdoor structure being used for the Waggoner lunch can withstand winds of 80-85 mph. It has an aluminum structure that is bolted to the concrete along with cable cross bracing for added stiffness.
15. Exactly where have the classrooms been relocated?
Students from Waggoner’s half day kindergarten and second grade classes have been relocated temporarily to various locations on both the Waggoner and the Kyrene Middle School campuses.
16. Will the lost school day have to be made up?
At this time, we do not believe so. The Kyrene School District has consulted with the Arizona Department of Education about this issue. Arizona State Statute states that the student school year is based on 180 days, or a number of instructional minutes equivalent to 180 days. Currently, Kyrene schools exceed the minimum number of required instructional minutes even without this day. Our administrative team will work with the Governing Board to make any necessary decisions regarding this issue.
17. Do the teachers at Waggoner Elementary need any help with items that may have been damaged in their classrooms?
The Kyrene Education Association, which many of our teachers belong to, sent a message to the teachers affected and will put together a list of needs which they will provide to all Kyrene PTO’s through their PSC (Parent Superintendent Council) members.
18. Will the Multi-Purpose Room be ready in time for school next year?
Demolition has already begun at Waggoner so that construction can begin. This work is being done under the guidance of experts so that they may continue to look for the cause of this incident. It is expected that the new Multi-Purpose Room will be completed in time for school to open in August of 2009.
19. Considering the focus on district budget challenges, how will Kyrene pay for the clean up, inspectors, structural engineers, replacements, and repairs that are needed at Waggoner?
Each year, Kyrene pays insurance premiums so that the property of the Kyrene School District is fully insured. It is our understanding that the replacement of the roof and all associated costs with this incident are covered. Our deductible is a minimal cost of $1000.00 per incident.
» More information on Kyrene’s budget
