After Christmas break, Wareham High School students will no longer have to dodge buckets and puddles during gym class and sporting events.

A contract to replace the school's gym roof was awarded to Gibson Roofs Inc., which bid $64,300 on the contract – approximately $46,000 less than the $110,000 Town Meeting voters approved to repair the roof.

Interim Town Administrator Derek Sullivan said that one of the reasons the cost was lower than anticipated is because roofing companies are generally hurting for work this time of year.

“They will take almost a break-even point,” said Sullivan.

Sullivan says he expects the actual cost of the project to be closer to $69,000, because a “clerk of the works” will be hired to oversee the project.

“You want someone overseeing the town’s interests,” said Sullivan. “This is to protect our investment.”

Sullivan said he expects the project to take about three days, noting: “time is of the essence.”

A Proposition 2½ debt exclusion — which would have raised property taxes temporarily to pay for the roof repairs — was defeated at the ballot in July. After that setback, school officials appeared before Town Meeting in October to ask the town for the funds. That proposal was approved.

Wareham High School students got involved in the effort, with students Nicole Nault and Charlemya Erasme presenting a petition to Town Meeting voters that had been signed by 416 of the high school’s 600 students.

"Gym class is becoming limited and/or dangerous," Erasme said at Town Meeting.

Sporting events have been canceled and gym classes have been moved due to flooding. On Tuesday, the Lady Vikings basketball team's game was moved from the high school to Wareham Middle School due to rain.