LPOSD: Snow is within safe limits

SANDPOINT - What a difference a year makes.

While it has snowed plenty in recent weeks, school roofs in the Lake Pend Oreille School District are not in any danger and students will be heading back to the classroom Monday.

"We didn't have that much moisture in the snow we got early on," said LPOSD facilities director Sid Rayfield. "That's worked in our favor."

While plenty of powder fell, the low moisture content kept the weight per square foot low, Rayfield said, adding he was comfortable until temperatures warmed and some rain fell.

"That didn't make me feel warm and fuzzy."

Even so, Rayfield said the average height of snow on district buildings is about 22 inches and the average weight per square foot is about 35 pounds. The roofs are built to handle a 60-pound snow load.

Even though the snow load is within safe limits, Rayfield had crews on the roofs at several schools, including Sandpoint High School, Clark Fork Jr./Sr. High School and Northside and Southside elementaries over the winter break.

Rayfield is constantly monitoring the roofs and measuring snow loads at each school and all district facilities. As snow levels hit about three feet, Rayfield has been sending crews up to keep snow loads within acceptable levels.

While he is mindful he has a budget he is working within, Rayfield said the district's main focus is safety and if snow loads begin to climb, crews will be sent up to shovel the roofs.

"Kid safety is our number one thing," he added.

Last year, the district was forced to close for several days as district and a 60-crew detachment from the Idaho National Guard shoveled roofs after snow loads approached critical levels.

The need to keep snow loads within safe levels is a lesson many have taken to heart this winter, thanks to the extreme snows which fell last year and the problems they caused.

"It taught a lot of us a lesson," Rayfield said. "I've noticed a lot of people out there shoveling.

 I don't feel like we're rolling the dice. I feel like I really  understand what we have on the roof and I think we're OK."