ENGINEER EXAMINES BUILDINGS; SCHOOL BOARD WILL REVIEW REPORT AT WEEKEND RETREAT

A structural engineer toured Cape Girardeau's four oldest school buildings looking for possible problems Wednesday.

The engineer, Robert MacDermott of R.W. MacDermott and Associate Consulting Engineers in Kirkwood, said he plans to submit his findings and a plan for a more complete survey to the Board of Education by this weekend's board retreat. A study of facilities is on the board's agenda.

MacDermott toured L.J. Schultz, Washington, May Greene and Franklin schools. The school board called for a structural analysis of the buildings following the near collapse of the roof over the Schultz cafeteria last week.

Board member Lyle Davis, who accompanied MacDermott on his tour of the buildings, said, "We hope that Mr. MacDermott can determine if these buildings are structurally sound. I don't think there is any questions what would happen to these old buildings if we had an earthquake, but we're trying to determine what might happen under normal circumstances."

MacDermott looked at the buildings, inside and out, including attics and basements. He was looking for cracks and water leaks and other signs of structural problems.

"In a very preliminary nature, we are attempting to establish the ground rules," MacDermott said. "We are looking at what these four buildings are made of."

At Schultz, MacDermott examined the repair work under way in the cafeteria and checked the repair of the south wall done in 1987.

He looked inside the drop ceiling in classrooms and in the attic, comparing what he saw to the blueprints for the building.

"I'm looking for anything that might be dangerous," MacDermott said.

MacDermott said, in addition to the findings from Wednesday's survey, he will present the board a proposal to do a complete structural survey of the buildings.

"Depending on what the board decides, we can come back to really examine the buildings," he said. "A thorough exam would probably involve three or four people and two or three days."