LEWISTON – A $50,000 to $60,000 fix is under way at the Lewiston Middle School auditorium to repair damage caused by a steam leak.

The backing behind some Sheetrock, wood panels and insulation is being replaced, partly due to water and partly due to the growth of mold, said Leon Levesque, Lewiston’s superintendent of schools.

The break was discovered over the holiday vacation.

“Water and steam went into some of the wood,” Levesque said. “Mold grew.”

A hazardous materials consultant was called in to assess the damage and air quality, lest the mold make students or staff sick. A specialty firm, New Meadows Abatement, removed the contaminated materials. Work is under way to replace the damaged portions of the stage.

The project is likely to be completed by the end of January, Levesque said.

Until then, the auditorium, one of the busiest stages in Lewiston-Auburn, will be off-limits to local organizations including the Community Little Theatre and other schools.

A Lewiston High School production of “Little Women” was scheduled to perform there but is looking for another venue.

Levesque said the problem is to be expected in such an aging building.

The middle school was built in 1929 and the auditorium was part of a 1980s renovation, he said.

The current work is covered by the School Department’s insurance pool, Levesque said.

The current budget will be unaffected, he said.