Storm-damaged Kitchener school will be ready for start of classes

Renovations continue at Blessed John Paul II Catholic Elementary School in Kitchener on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2013.

When the bell rings next Tuesday to kick off a new year at a Kitchener elementary school, students and teachers will find themselves sharing space with construction workers.

Blessed Pope John Paul II Catholic Elementary School in Kitchener’s Lackner Woods area was slated for $2 million worth of renovations over the summer, including the addition of a new wing to the school.

But when a severe storm hit Waterloo Region in July, water began to pour through open sections of the roof, causing damage that pushed construction back.

Workers remain on-site, needing a few more weeks to complete the project, but schools officials say students won’t be affected by the delay.

“Unfortunately that July storm hit at a bad stage in this project,” says principal Pam Garbutt.

“We’re all ready to go for the kids. It’s just going to be a little inconvenient from the standpoint that the staff room, part of the office and a little bit of the gym are compromised.”

Two classrooms built as part of the addition are also affected and won’t be ready by next week.

Parents say they’re willing to “roll with the punches” and aren’t too worried about the renovations not being complete until after the school year has started.

“It seems like the school’s doing a pretty good job of trying to keep everything on track,” says Allison Berscht, who has one child at the school.

School officials say everything should be ready to go at Blessed John Paul II by Thanksgiving.