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Schools highlight urgent roof and bus repairs, request $1.2M for CIP and $200K for textbooks
Summary
Warren County Public Schools asked supervisors for $1.2 million for capital improvements — including roof repairs at Hilda J. Barber and Skyline Middle School and replacement of aging buses — and a $200,000 local textbook appropriation (with state textbook allotment being moved into a dedicated fund).
School officials told the Board of Supervisors the FY27 capital improvement ask of $1.2 million is intended to address immediate facility needs and begin a planned rotation of aging vehicles.
Facilities staff said roof repairs at Hilda J. Barber and Skyline Middle School were among the highest priorities identified by a capital‑roofing assessment; quoted repairs cited in the presentation included figures presented as examples for planning, and officials offered to return with more detailed product options (shingle vs. metal) and vendor quotes for supervisor review. Dr. Cosner said the division will continue to seek the most economical, durable materials and will present further detail at the building committee meeting.
Transportation and long‑term savings: staff reported a 40‑bus fleet with about 15 buses past recommended replacement and a typical new-bus price near $130,000. Presenters argued that a steady replacement cycle would reduce high per‑part repair costs and produce long‑term savings.
Textbooks and adoption cycles: the division plans to move the state textbook allotment ($412,720) into a dedicated textbook fund that can carry forward between years to smooth purchases that come in multi‑year cycles. Because of a recently awarded math innovation grant, the local additional textbook request was halved from $400,000 to $200,000; staff estimated total near‑term needs for K–5 math and high‑school social‑studies adoptions at roughly $612,000.
Funding options discussed: supervisors asked whether prior “turnback” revenues or the county’s 2004 meals‑tax referendum — which had been presented to voters as dedicated to school capital — could offset some capital needs. Staff said audited turnback amounts for recent years were not immediately available in the meeting but that historically schools have requested turnback dollars for capital when audits permitted; a supervisor said portions of meals-tax receipts were later redirected and asked for mechanisms to better secure dedicated funding.
Quote: “If we are able to start replacing our fleet, then we’ll be able to actually in the long run, it’ll be a savings,” Dr. Cosner said, urging a steady rotation plan for buses.
What’s next: staff offered to provide more granular quotes for roof materials and to check audit records for available turnback funds; supervisors asked for options — including escrowed or earmarked revenue — to ensure capital funds reach schools.
