A major roof leak at Ancaster high school has students dodging dozens of buckets

The roof at Ancaster high school has sprung so many leaks that the hallways are lined with buckets and students and their parents worry about what’s in the water.

“Its disgusting, we have 37 garbage cans in one hallway filled with brown liquid.”

The Superintendent of the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board, Michael Prendergast did not allow our camera inside the school, but students sent us videos. He says the roof has been leaking for years but never to this extent.

The roof of the east wing of the school was slated for repairs this year but since the leakage has become significantly worse over the last few weeks, the board says temporary fixes are currently being worked on. But a permanent solution wont come until this summer.

While some students are disgusted by the situation, others have more serious concerns. “I don’t know what’s in that water and its kinda scary.”

7 classrooms have been closed. The board says some of them have asbestos.

“The asbestos hasn’t been moved at all. Right now we haven’t had any issues with the ceiling in there but we know that is a potential problem so we have closed them.”

Roof repairs will cost the board approximately one million dollars. The Superintendent says there is no concern for the structural integrity of the building. The board has also tested for mould and says it hasn’t found any.