Down with the old

Demolition began on Linderman Elementary gymnasium Tuesday, following part of the wall caving in earlier this month.

Polson School District Superintendent Rex Weltz called the demolition and stabilization “phase one” and “the emergency phase.”

The demolition is occurring where snow and bricks fell into the locker room on the south side of the gymnasium after a snow storm produced heavy snow, causing the wall to bow earlier this month.

Demolition is anticipated to be completed Friday, Weltz said, which will allow architects and engineers an opportunity to access the gym and conduct a further assessment.

There is no estimate on the cost of the overall project, he added, as the assessments that will be completed after the emergency phase.

A claim has been filed with the district’s insurance provider, PayneWest Insurance.

The process as a whole has been “dynamic and fluid,” Weltz said.

As crews began to take part of the wall down, Weltz said students were unfazed.

“They’ve kept on business as normal,” he said.

On Jan. 1, a maintenance supervisor alerted Weltz to the bowing wall.

A structure engineer was called to assess the situation.

On Jan. 6, officials were notified that a portion of the south non-weight bearing parapet wall collapsed into a locker room.