Lexington, Kentucky, September 6, 2025
News Summary
Severe roof leaks at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Lexington have led to significant class disruptions as staff and students deal with a shortage of buckets to catch the rainwater. Many areas of the school, including the cafeteria and gym, were affected, prompting school officials to reroute students. The aging roof, under warranty until 2026, is scheduled for replacement next year. Despite ongoing efforts to manage the situation, the district faces a budget shortfall of $16 million.
Lexington, Kentucky – Severe roof leaks at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School occurred during Thursday’s rain, leading to an unprecedented shortage of buckets to collect the leaking water. Assistant Principal Robbie Barnes alerted staff to the situation, which has resulted in class disruptions as students may need to reroute to avoid wet areas near classroom doors. The school remains operational but dealing with the ongoing effects of recent rainfall.
The leaks have primarily affected several areas within the school, including the gym, gym foyer, and band hallway, with reports indicating that the center of the cafeteria was “pouring” with water. During a parent open house held on the same evening, many top-floor rooms were found filled with buckets and trash cans used to collect the rainwater. Areas such as the cafeteria were highlighted with yellow caution tape marking off a section filled with trash cans; similarly, a family and consumer sciences room was significantly impacted.
Myron Thompson, the chief operating officer for Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS), stated that an ongoing bird problem has contributed to these recurring leaks in recent years. Currently, the roof is aging and is due for replacement, but it remains under service warranty until 2026. Next year, the district has plans in place to replace the roof entirely.
In light of recent weather patterns, inspections and maintenance of the roof have been prioritized. The FCPS has been collaborating with a warranty company for biweekly inspections and necessary repairs. A roofing company conducted an inspection the week of August 11, reporting no damage to roof seams, but with the heavy rains, additional issues have become apparent that are scheduled for attention shortly.
Efforts to mitigate leaking issues will continue until the roof replacement is completed next year. School officials have committed to inspecting and managing the roof actively to prevent further classroom disruptions. However, the leaks have surfaced during a challenging budgetary period for the district, which faces a shortfall of $16 million and a declining contingency fund. Despite these financial constraints, district spokesperson Miranda Scully emphasized that the leaks are not related to the budget issues.
The FCPS team is diligently working alongside faculty and staff to promptly address the leaks while also assessing the immediate and long-term needs of the school. As the situation evolves, the administration aims to ensure that disruptions to student learning are minimized as much as possible.
Key Features of the Incident
- Severe roof leaks reported during Thursday’s rain.
- Shortage of buckets to catch water, causing class disruptions.
- Roof replacement planned for next year.
- Current roof under warranty until 2026.
- District under financial constraints with a $16 million shortfall.
FAQ
- What caused the roof leaks at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School?
- The leaks were attributed to an ongoing bird problem and the aging condition of the roof.
- Are the leaks related to the school’s budget issues?
- No, the leaks are not connected to the current financial challenges facing the district.
- When will the roof be replaced?
- The replacement is scheduled for next year, although the current roof is under warranty until 2026.
- How is the school handling class disruptions due to the leaks?
- The school remains open, and officials are working on rerouting students to avoid affected areas.
- What has the district done in reaction to the leaks?
- The district is conducting regular inspections, working with a warranty company, and planning immediate repairs as needed.
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Additional Resources
- Kentucky.com: Paul Laurence Dunbar High School Roof Issues
- Wikipedia: Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
- CBS News: Dunbar High School News
- Google Search: Roof Leaks in Schools
- Belt Magazine: Recovering Alice Dunbar-Nelson
- Google Scholar: Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
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