The Davis school board heard an update on the ongoing efforts to repair or replace the leaky roof on the Davis High School multipurpose room on Thursday night.

The MPR has been out of action last October, when early rains triggered new episodes of problems with the roof, which has been repaired several times in recent years. An inspection turned up evidence of toxic mold as well as dry rot in the roof beams, prompting school district officials to close the building.

Last fall, school board members briefly discussed the possibility of demolishing the building, which dates from the 1960s. However, replacing it would cost an estimated $9 million-plus, so the board eventually directed staff to explore two other options: a limited repair-and-re-roof option, or tearing off the existing roof and putting on a new one, including some new beams.

The district also has applied for hardship funding from the state to help pay for the project.

On Thursday night, Mike Adell, director of facilities, told the trustees that a representative of the California Department of Public Health has inspected the MPR, “and we did receive a letter of concurrence” that the building has mold problems that need to be remediated.

But Adell said the district hasn’t yet received a green light from the Division of State Architect, which wants additional portions of the roof to be exposed for further inspection before the agency makes a decision on the request for hardship funds.

Adell said that work will cost an estimated $75,000, adding that it probably would need to be done anyway, whether the roof is repaired or the building is demolished.

If the Division of State Architect ultimately recommends a more limited repair and re-roof option, Davis would need to put up about $400,000 of an estimated $1 million for the job, with the state funding the remaining $600,000, Adell said. If the DSA recommends more extensive work, Davis would be on the hook for about $1 million of the $2 million needed.

In response to a question from trustee Susan Lovenburg about the timeline, Adell said state paperwork takes time, and the work might get done next summer.

That didn’t sit well with school board president Richard Harris, who asked if there is a quicker way to get the MPR repaired.

“This is a major facility, we want to get it up and running as soon as we can,” Harris said.

Superintendent Winfred Roberson said he has been meeting with city officials to explore the possibility that city-sponsored recreation and after-school programs might be interested in leasing the MPR, and that money from that lease agreement might be used by the district to help put the MPR back into usable condition.

“We could form a partnership that could bring money to renovate the interior,” Roberson said.

The board also heard a report on Davis High School’s graduation ceremony, which took place on campus for the first time in more than 30 years. Principal Jacqui Moore, Vice Principals Tom McHale and Stacey Desideri and Athletic Director Dennis Foster addressed the board.

Moore said the event ended up costing a little less than $5,000, when all expenses were tallied along with income from ticket sales and food concessions. That compares to the more than $17,000 spent on the June 2010 graduation ceremony, held at Aggie Stadium on the UC Davis campus.

Moore reported that some 3,500 guests watched the 502 members of the Class of 2011 graduate. Managing the event were 48 staff volunteers, plus another 40 community volunteers and security staff.

McHale, who is serving as principal of the secondary summer school program, taking place at Holmes Junior High, said summer school classes are under way, with 270 students enrolled in math, English and other subjects. He said 14 teachers who work for the Davis district during the regular school year are the instructors, as well as two other teachers who formerly worked in Davis.

— Reach Jeff Hudson at [email protected] or (530) 747-8055.

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