The South Whidbey School Board approved a $62,000 project at its regular monthly meeting Wednesday night that will enclose a breezeway at South Whidbey High School.

The breezeway on the second floor of the high school has caused problems in the past according to Brian Miller, the South Whidbey School District’s maintenance director. In project documents, Miller wrote that the breezeway has been a source of water leaks in the kitchen/cafeteria area, while rainwater also causes a trip hazard. Additionally, Miller said it is difficult to keep clean and leads to a “fair amount” of energy loss during the winter.

“Enclosing the area will allow us to keep the hallway doors open most of the time as we do in other parts of the building, only needing to close them for security reasons or in case of a fire alarm,” Miller wrote. “It will also make the upper floor environment more comfortable year round.”

Miller proposed the district hire Weatherproofing Technologies, Inc. for the project. Miller said Weatherproofing Technologies, Inc. would start by removing the existing railing and installing an anodized aluminum commercial window system. The window system, using “low e” tempered glass, blocks infrared and ultraviolet radiation to allow visibility, but also controls heat transfer.

“The quality of their work has been consistently good,” Miller wrote.