Board of Education requests $3.54 million from county for repairs to two elementary roofs

Representatives of the Dickson County Board of Education asked the county commission on April 7 to amend the general fund by $3,541,955 to replace leaking roofs at Stuart Burns Elementary School and White Bluff Elementary School.

Dr. Sutherland, speaking for the school system, said the roofs are failing and presented the formal request with Clifton, the district’s general maintenance supervisor, available to answer technical questions. The schools would replace existing foam roofing with new insulation board and EPDM roofing, Dr. Sutherland said.

Why it matters: school officials said the work is necessary to prevent interior damage and to allow other interior repairs; commissioners asked about the district’s audited fund balance. Dr. Sutherland and county staff discussed recent audit figures and the district’s budgeting practice of anticipating fund balance use. The board’s audited fund balance was cited as $32.6 million as of June 30, 2024; budgeted projections and planned uses were discussed but include differing line-item treatments.

What commissioners did: Commissioner Gray moved and Commissioner Beatty seconded a motion to place the schools’ funding request on the regular session agenda; the commission approved the motion by voice vote.

Details: Dr. Sutherland said the roofing contract includes allowances for removal of old materials and local conditions; design and bidding work spanned about six months. Commissioners said they inspected the roofs and described visible deterioration; one commissioner said White Bluff’s roof “was even worse than Burns.” Dr. Sutherland said some larger capital projects previously approved by the board (including a $2.5 million highway-department purchase and an $8 million sports-complex renovation) help explain prior authorizations of school-related capital spending.

Next steps: The schools’ request will appear on the regular session agenda for a formal appropriation vote.