Bomb cyclone causes heavy damage to Napa Valley schools, board OKs emergency repairs

The powerful storm that swept through Napa on Feb. 4 caused heavy damage to Napa Valley Unified School District buildings, including the roofs of Silverado Middle School and Vichy Elementary School, and brought down a number of trees on school sites.

The Napa Valley Unified School District board took emergency action Thursday that’s expected to speed up the process to remove downed trees and repair the roofs.

The board unanimously approved three emergency resolutions that will allow district staff to pursue no-bid contracts to repair the damage.

The roofs need to be “repaired or replaced immediately to avoid further damage to the site or the potential for harm to students and staff on the site,” according to a district staff report.

Typically, the district is required to pursue some form of competitive construction contract bidding for contracts over $60,000. But there’s an exception to those rules in case of emergency, when there’s insufficient time to carry out the bidding process.

“The exception applies where, as here, the emergency is based on a sudden and unexpected occurrence,” according to the staff report.

At the Thursday meeting, the board members swiftly voted to approve the emergency items — each of which required a four-fifths vote to pass — without discussion.

The staff report doesn’t include the estimated cost for the repairs, but it notes staff will return with contracts for services at a later meeting.

You can reach Staff Writer Edward Booth at 707-521-5281 or edward.booth@pressdemocrat.com.