Garrett County board approves budget transfers, $500,000 for Dennett Road roof and awards $402,368 roofing contract

Garrett County Board of Education members on Aug. 12 approved a series of budget moves and capital actions, including a $462,000 transfer within the FY2024–25 budget, a $69,258 revenue-driven amendment for FY2025–26, a $500,000 one-time draw from the district—s health care trust to fund a partial roof replacement at the Dennett Road Educational Complex, and a $402,368 contract for that roof work to Heidler Roofing under the OMNIA Partners cooperative purchasing agreement.

Scott Felty presented the FY2024–25 transfer, saying the total move is $462,000 and listing the recipient activity lines: $50,000 to 181 certified salaries; $40,000 to 181 noncertified salaries; $62,000 to 401 certified salaries in people services; $200,000 to 350 special education consultants; and $110,000 to 901 fixed charges for retirement. Felty said the funds are being transferred from activity 229 (other instruction) where a surplus remained.

Superintendent McCarty recommended the transfer. Board member Rodney moved to approve the FY2024–25 transfer and Sadie seconded. The board approved the transfer by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the public discussion.

On the FY2025–26 budget, the board approved a $69,258 amendment to reflect increased state foundation "hold harmless" revenue and College and Career Readiness (CCR) funding. The superintendent said the additional revenue was received after the budget adoption and must be incorporated by law. Rodney moved the amendment; the board approved it by voice vote.

Separately, the board approved drawing $500,000 from the district—s health care trust for a one-time capital use to partially replace the roof on the Dennett Road Educational Complex. The superintendent and staff told the board the roof has active leaks and existing roof material is too degraded to patch, leaving replacement as the only viable option. Board members asked about the trust balance; staff reported the health care trust had roughly $1.8 million as of a March update, and that the trust had been used previously for one-time projects or to mitigate health care costs.

Following that approval, the board awarded a contract under the OMNIA Partners cooperative to Heidler Roofing for $402,368 for a partial roof replacement over the finance wing, human resources wing and lobby at the Dennett Road complex. The contract includes a 20-year warranty; an alternate price for deck replacement was listed at $15 per square foot and would be used if on-site inspections show decking must be replaced before new roofing is installed. Superintendent McCarty recommended the award; the motion (moved by Sadie and seconded by Rodney) passed by voice vote.

District staff said work under the OMNIA contract is expected to begin in September and, weather permitting, take about four to six weeks with anticipated completion in October. Staff also said that if the final project cost comes in below the $500,000 authorized draw, any surplus would remain in the district budget and be brought back to the board for direction.

The board—s public materials note the FY2024–25 category transfers will also require approval from the Garrett County Commissioners because they change major budget categories outside the school board—s unilateral authority.

Capital projects update

Bobby Witt, who provided the capital projects update, told the board the Southern High School partial roof replacement by SGK Contracting is substantially complete and performing well; the Northern High partial replacement (Hite Roofing) is behind schedule but the front portion should be finished before school starts with remaining work next construction season; and the Southern High School fieldhouse awaits electric service from Potomac Edison/FirstEnergy before final inspections and a certificate of occupancy can be issued. The fieldhouse concession-area equipment still needs a specialized Ansul system inspection by the fire marshal before culinary equipment can be used.

Witt also reported that the Bradford School construction schedule slipped: the contractor (Shockey) updated the timeline to finish by mid-March 2026 with possible occupancy beginning April 7, 2026 (the Tuesday after Easter). He said the district will plan a phased move and will not move during standardized testing; if the building turnover is delayed into May, the district may elect to postpone moving students until the end of the school year. Staff said demolition of the existing Bradford School is expected to occur over the summer once the district has cleared and auctioned reusable furniture and equipment and completed required abatement work.

Other items

Student board member Cadence gave a brief student report including the county—s Stuff the Bus supply drive, fall athletics starting Aug. 13, and student council activities. The board announced that member Matthew Tresize resigned and that the Garrett County Commissioners will appoint a replacement at their September meeting; the application was open through the Friday after the meeting.

Why it matters

The approved transfers move money to pay salaries, special-education consultants and retirement costs; the roof work funds and contract address an active building-safety and facilities issue at a central office and instructional site where staff and some programs operate. The agreements and transfers require follow-up approvals or notifications to the county commissioners and, in the case of construction, on-site inspections and potential additional deck-replacement work if identified during installation.

What—s next

District staff said they will notify the county commissioners about the major-category budget changes, begin contract mobilization for the Dennett Road roof in September if schedules hold, and provide ongoing updates on Bradford School occupancy and other capital projects.