HEAVY rainfall has caused an estimated $100,000 to $200,000 damage at a Wodonga school and will cause significant disruption to classes.
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A downpour on January 14 led to minor flooding at Victory Lutheran College, with water seeping into a building with four classrooms.
The repair bill had initially been estimated at $40,000, but further inspections by contractors found the damage to be much worse.
Principal Cain McDonald said floor coverings, skirting boards, architraves and plaster walls would need replacing.
While there was no electrical damage, several floor heaters were affected by the water.
“School returns on Wednesday so we’re relocating our year 2 and 3 students into other classroom areas within the school,” he said.
“We’ll do that for three days this week and reassess as the week goes on as to where the contractors are at.
“Everything has been removed from the building, it’s now a matter of how quickly everything can be replaced.
“If it goes on for a number of weeks, we’ll be looking at contingencies in terms of bringing in temporary classrooms onsite.”
About 100 students would be affected, Mr McDonald said.
“It’s challenging, especially at this time of year with everyone coming back to school,” he said.
“I’m a perfectionist, I want everything to be as perfect as can be.
“It’s a challenge at the start of the year not to have the learning environment ready to go as hoped.”
The Bureau of Meteorology recorded 46.8 millimetres on January 14.
Mr McDonald said the school would look at installing additional stormwater drainage around the building and consider repaving.
“We’ve never had an event like this in my time at the school,” he said.
