After the recent amount of rain and snowfall, the leaks in the ceilings at Homestead have become increasingly noticeable. In 2023, these leaks can be seen all around the building.

Kyle Thompson, the director of maintenance and operations, explained that this winter when the snow fell, the cold wind made the snow freeze and block the gutters around the building. Because these gutters are blocked with snow, the rainwater had nowhere to go. That is what caused the water to sink into the building and create leaks in the 600 wing, fine art wing and cafeteria.

“We have several inches of snow on the roofs and that snow then freezes and then when you get rain, the water can’t drain off the roofs so essentially the roofs become pools,” Thompson said.

The maintenance team worked to find out why these leaks were happening. Once they pinpointed the problem, they realized it was because of the winter we had this year.

“When water can’t drain properly it backs up and finds new ways in the building. That’s why we are seeing leaks that aren’t really leaks. It’s not going to happen again because we’re not going to have the same conditions,” Thompson said.

Homestead does not have to worry about harsh leaks; however, because of this past winter, the maintenance team has their plans set in stone on calling up the roofers so they can prevent the leaks.

“Typically we’ll keep an eye out if there’s a leak that happens persistently, then we get the roofers in here and have them take a look at it,” Dustin Manley, the facility coordinator, said.

Both sources ensured that these leaks won’t have any harmful impacts on students or teachers.

“The Mequon-Thiensville School District maintains a 10-Year Maintenance Plan designed to ensure the business of education can be conducted in schools that are safe, healthy, and functionally efficient,” Superintendent Matthew Joynt, said.