The Watertown High School roof started leaking over Thanksgiving break, causing water damage, and district officials say they don't know how much it will cost or how long it will take to fix.

District Superintendent Terry N. Fralick said the leak in the 19-year-old roof caused flooding in the third floor hallway, gymnasium, pool area, locker rooms and the one story addition at the south end of the building. He said, as far as he knows, nothing was damaged besides ceiling tile.

As soon as the leaks were discovered, Mr. Fralick said the custodial staff placed large garbage cans beneath them to collect the water, and RSI Roofing, Inc., Gouverneur, was called to patch the leaking roof membrane.

Mr. Fralick said the membrane keeps shrinking and cracking because of the temperature fluctuations through the summer and winter months. He said if the roof is not repaired soon, it is probable more cracks will develop and there will be more leaking.

"We're going to need a new roof put on in a timely manner," Mr. Fralick said. "We have the patches on the existing leaks, but we just have to hope there will be no more additional cracking and leaking until we can get the roof replaced."

Currently, the roof above the cafeteria is the only section scheduled to be replaced in the district's capital construction project, which is waiting for state Education Department approval.

The additional roof replacement plan must be drawn up by the district's architects, Bernier, Carr & Associates, Watertown, submitted to the state Education Department for approval and then the district must solicit bids.

Mr. Fralick said the entire process could take "many months."

The Board of Education was also told that at its January meeting, it will hear more information about and could approve spending $3,300 annually on 911ai (additional information), a phone system that would identify where 911 calls are coming from within the district.

When someone calls 911 from anywhere within the district now, Mr. Fralick said the district office address comes up on dispatcher's screens.

With the new system, dispatchers will be able to locate exactly where the phone call is made, which will mean a quicker response by police and fire departments.

"This will be tremendously advantageous to the response time and the safety of our students and staff," Mr. Fralick said.

The system was designed by Watertown graduate Kris W. Allen, owner of CREG Systems Inc., Watertown.