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Alamance commissioners approve applications for school capital grants, authorize Graham High canopy replacement
Summary
The board voted unanimously to authorize five applications for state school-based capital grants and to release local repair-and-renovation (R&R) funds for demolition and replacement of the Graham High School covered walkway system.
The Alamance County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to authorize staff to apply for five state school-based capital grant projects and separately approved releasing county repair-and-renovation funds to replace the deteriorating covered walkway system at Graham High School.
County staff presented the grant applications as needs-based requests for state funds that require a local match. A staff presenter said the county is classified by the state as a “tier 2” county for grant competition and that the county will continue to apply in hopes that residual funds may be awarded after tier 1 allocations. He listed one roof project and four HVAC projects as the five applications and described the local matches and potential savings to the county if grants are awarded.
The presentation noted Southern Middle School already has more than $1.1 million allocated in the current capital improvement plan (CIP) and that a state grant for the Southern Middle roof would reduce the county’s outlay by about $400,000; the county match listed for that roof project was $700,000. For four HVAC grant applications across high schools and a middle school, the presenter said the county match would total $3,000,000 if all were awarded and that the county request in the 2026–27 CIP for Southern Alamance High School is $3.75 million.
Separately, commissioners approved using public school R&R (repair and renovation) funds — a lottery-derived funding source — to demolish and replace the covered walkway (canopy) system at Graham High School. The presenter told the board the canopy concrete contains rusting rebar that has caused pieces of concrete to detach and fall; the canopy system was built in 1962 and is used by students and staff to move between 10–11 buildings across campus. The presenter described the R&R funds as time-sensitive because the state must approve the design before the remainder of the money is released and because the work must be done while students are off campus.
Both items were moved, seconded, and approved with no recorded opposing votes. The motions recorded in the meeting transcript did not name the mover and seconder for the grant-application motion and the canopy-release motion; the board voice vote recorded “Aye” and the chair called the motions unanimous.
Background and context: county staff said the grant applications are consistent with the county’s 2020 facility needs plan and the funded CIP. The R&R fund described by staff is restricted to school repair and renovation projects; staff said the state initially allocates design-phase money and then approves the remainder after reviewing the design. The presenter said the canopy replacement work would include relocating fire alarm and data conduit that currently runs under the demolished roof sections.
What’s next: staff said if a particular grant is awarded, the county would reorder CIP project timing to accommodate the grant-funded project. For the R&R canopy work, staff said state design approval and the procurement process would follow once funds are released.
Ending: Commissioners asked no follow-up questions at length and approved both items. The transcript shows the board moved from these items to other business after the votes.
