At a special Board of Education meeting held Tuesday evening, July 21, the district’s Board unanimously approved an Emergency Resolution to immediately address recently identified deterioration of the parapet on the east side of the Jr.-Sr. High School roof.
For any community members who were unable to attend the special meeting, a recording is available on the District’s YouTube channel (discussion of Emergency Resolution starts at the 59:25 mark).
The board accepted the determinations of the construction manager, architects, and external structural engineering report, all of which concluded that the condition of the parapet presents an imminent safety hazard, poses a significant risk of further structural damage, and requires immediate corrective action to protect the building and its occupants.
The parapet is original to the building, which was constructed in 1925. The deterioration was discovered June 29 by the construction team overseeing the district’s Centennial Capital Project while replacing the roof on that section of the Jr.-Sr. High School. Once the existing roof was removed, crews identified significant deterioration on the back side of the parapet that had not been visible during previous inspections.
Because of the immediate safety concerns and the danger posed by the potential of falling debris, the Board declared the repairs an emergency. This designation allows the district to move swiftly, including obtaining necessary approvals from NYSED that might otherwise take significantly longer.
“As anyone who owns an older home can attest, maintenance is an ongoing process. Often, the full extent of a problem isn’t apparent until exterior layers are removed, revealing years of hidden deterioration. Thanks to the Board’s swift action, we can move forward with repairs that will restore this section of the high school, preserve its structural integrity, and ensure it remains protected under warranty for many years to come,” Superintendent of Schools Kimberly Ross said.
Finances
The maximum amount budgeted for the emergency repair project is $780,000, including approximately $510,000 in construction costs and $270,000 in incidental costs.
To fund the repairs, the district will use $300,000 from its recently established Repair Reserve Fund and $480,000 from its Undesignated Fund Balance.
“This is exactly why we have a Repair Reserve Fund,” Superintendent Ross said. “These funds are our ‘rainy day’ savings, and that rainy day has arrived. The good news is that we ended last year in a strong financial position and were able to carry a slightly larger unrestricted Fund Balance — 6% instead of the 4% we typically maintain. Using $480,000 will deplete that 2% cushion, but we will still be left with the customary 4% balance.”
Because the project is proceeding on an emergency basis, state regulations require the district to replenish the Repair Reserve Fund within two years.
The district expects to receive state building aid for the project at its approved reimbursement rate of 79.8%, with the exception of the $300,000 paid from the Repair Reserve Fund, which is not eligible for reimbursement. District officials are awaiting guidance from the state on whether the aid will be received in a single year or distributed over a 15-year period.
Project Timing
The emergency repairs will start as soon as possible and will take place concurrently with the ongoing Centennial project work. The timeline, however, is dependent on the availability of local masonry contractors to complete the work. In the meantime, the structure has been temporarily reinforced with rubber roofing to combat weather conditions. A safety fence will be installed around the area below the parapet, to ensure the safety of those in and around the building.