Date: Fri 17-Nov-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: AMYD

Quick Words:

school-roof-repairs-

Full Text:

Roof Repairs May Add To School Capital Costs

B Y A MY D'O RIO

Everyone needs a roof overhead.

And, when it springs a leak, it can put a leak in the pocket too.

The school district is facing a number of roof repairs over the next few years

that could total $885,000.

Because the school board is requesting $31 million for two building projects

and the town is bonding for other large projects, the board wants to keep

operating expenses in check the next few years. But, this may be impossible.

The five-year capital budget contains $2.6 million in projects beyond the $31

million needed for the Hawley School and Newtown High School additions. The

board expects to pay for much of it with its operating budget.

This will put considerable pressure on a budget that board members say is

already tight.

The district is looking to update the schools technologically, and might have

to pay for part of new computer system for the entire town.

Enrollment is rising, as are costs like supplies, salaries and transportation,

and state education aid is decreasing. Plus, the school board expects to

determine soon if a fifth elementary school is needed.

If it is, the school board will probably need to acquire land and hire

architects, just to start.

School officials are currently trying to find $40,000 in this year's budget to

replace part of Sandy Hook School's roof. The section needing repair is the

section that failed soon after it was installed during Sandy Hook's

renovation.

A temporary roof was installed and has lasted 10 years.

The roof at Head O'Meadow School is as old as the building and all of it needs

to be replaced for approximately $520,000.

It is a cold-tar roof, and when these type of roofs fail, they fail big time,

said John Torok, Jr, the school system's business director.

"It will be like Niagara Falls coming through," he said.

The board does not want to gamble with this roof so it has tentatively slated

the project for 1996-97, even though that is a hard financial year for the

town.

Engineers are assessing the roof to see if it should be replaced sooner, or if

it can wait until 1997-98 for replacement.

Middle Gate School also needs roof repair for approximately $325,000. The roof

over the original building is about 17 years old. The district has slated this

project for 1998-99.

The board is facing the unavoidable task of converting the Board of Education

offices at Newtown Middle School into classrooms and finding a home for

central office. The cost is estimated to be $235,000.

The buildings and grounds department will need a home too. It is working out

of the high school now, but the high school will reclaim the space in a few

years for classrooms. The department needs a $150,000 to erect a facility for

itself.

The district also needs about $10,000 to tie Hawley School into the sewer

line.

Head O'Meadow School and Newtown Middle School contribute greatly to the

five-year, capital project list.

At Head O'Meadow, the district expects to spend $60,000 in 1996-97 to improve

ventilation in one of the wings. In 1997-98, school officials want to build a

three-classroom annex for $250,000 because the school will need more

classrooms. Also, the district is mandated to replace an oil tank for $50,000

that same year.

In 1998-99, the district estimates spending $400,000 to bring the school up to

state code, and the following year, it proposes repaving the parking lot for

$80,000.

At Newtown Middle School, the district wants to replace doors for $42,000, put

vinyl siding on the outside trim for $92,000, tie into the sewer line for

$34,000 and refurbish the auditorium for $25,000.

In 1998-99, the district must spend $200,000 so the school meets certain fire

codes, and in 2000-2001, school officials propose replacing bleachers and

expanding the parking area for $140,000.