EAST LONGMEADOW, Mass. - Leaks in the roof at East Longmeadow high school have some community members saying it's time for a new building.

What You Need To Know

  • East Longmeadow High School has been dealing with leaks and around their skylights for years

  • The school is in the waiting process for potential funding from the state to either renovate or rebuild the facility from scratch

  • The project for either a rebuild or a renovations is expected to be at least $100 million dollars

  • The school committee will host a meeting on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. at the high school where people can voice their concerns over the future of the building

School Committee chair Gregory Thompson said the leaks are happening around the school’s skylights and the conditions of the facility are not a new issue.

"We're aware that there's many issues with the school," said Thompson. "It's old. It has roof issues, as this demonstrates. It has electrical issues. It has ventilation, things that need and are needed."

East Longmeadow High School is around 60 years old. A grandparent of a student Spectrum News 1 spoke to Tuesday said a new building is needed.

"I feel this high school should've been replaced years ago," said East Longmeadow resident Betty Hrdlicka. "Unfortunately that didn't happen. My children went to this high school and today I am picking up my grandchild who is on crutches."

Thompson said renovating the school would cost more than $100 million and a new building would be even more. The Massachusetts School Building Authority has rejected funding the project several times already, but if the state approves a new building project this time, Thompson said it would take away some of the cost for taxpayers.

Hrdlicka said it's time for the town to invest more into their youth for a healthier learning environment.

"Minnechaug's high school is beautiful, I've seen it, I've been inside of it," said Hrdlicka. "So is Longmeadow's. It's time to do the same here. The pool, I think we have the only pool in the area that has six lanes in it, you know, that's ridiculous today.

The East Longmeadow school committee will hold a public forum on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. where people will be able to air their concerns regarding the future of the high school building.