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Water damage ruins books at academy on Ball State campus

MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) – Water damage has ruined thousands of dollars’ worth of books at a public residential high school on Ball State University’s campus.

The (Muncie) Star Press reports water leaked in the basement of a building used by the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics and Humanities earlier this summer. The basement held all of the academy’s books, and maintenance crews also found mold.

School academic affairs director Jeffrey Smith estimates it lost about $37,000 worth of books, and says officials weren’t sure if they’d be able to start on time. Classrooms in another building on campus were ready for the first day of school last week.

Ball State is paying for the books and maintenance. University spokesman Marc Ransford says mold removal should finish in two to three weeks.

The academy draws high-performing students from across the state.