Board approves bond spending plan for urgent roof repairs and fire-alarm upgrades

The school board approved a plan to use remaining bond funds to address urgent facility repairs after an ice storm and subsequent roof failures.

Director of facilities Lauren Stanley told the board the district has about $3.1 million left in bond funds and recommended spending roughly $1.2 million on immediate roof repairs and drain work at multiple schools. Stanley gave example estimates: North Albany roof work and related drainage at approximately $800,000; Oak Elementary repairs about $138,000; South Shore about $122,000; and Takina about $140,000. He also noted a roughly $900,000 solar requirement remaining from the bond and recommended replacing aging fire‑alarm systems at eight sites and adding demand‑control ventilation at Liberty to supply outdoor air to several rooms.

Stanley said the district filed insurance claims after last winter’s ice storm and is still working with the insurer on final coverage, but stressed that “the bottom line is there’s really no fix in that roof. We need to replace it.” He told the board bids below the board threshold will be processed administratively and higher bids returned for board approval.

After discussion about priorities and contingency planning, a board member moved to authorize the bond spending plan as presented; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

Next steps: district staff will return with final bid results and updated costs for board approval where required.