Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 28, 1994 TAG: 9405310158
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
And the bill is estimated to be $16 million, the projected cost for needed maintenance, renovation and repair of schools in Roanoke County.
The projects include repairing parking lots, driveways, roofing and outside lights; air conditioning auditoriums and gymnasiums; replacing outside doors; upgrading lockers; and replacing carpet and many other items.
School officials have compiled a seven-page list of needed capital improvements at the county's 27 schools.
"We have looked to maintenance and facilities whenever we needed to make cuts," said Thomas, chairman of the Roanoke County School Board. "It has caught up with us."
As budgets have become tighter, Thomas said, the board has been forced to trim the budget requests of Homer Duff, director of facilities and operations.
"Whenever we have needed to make cuts to preserve salary raises and other things, we have turned to him," Thomas said.
Besides the $16 million for renovations and repairs at all schools, the board also needs $10.5 million for making major additions and upgrading facilities at five schools.
The schools and the amounts are: Cave Spring Junior High, $2.5 million; William Byrd High, $3.3 million; Cave Spring High, $2.5 million; Fort Lewis/Glenvar Elementary, $1.6 million; and Oak Grove Elementary, $635,000.
The School Board is compiling the list of building needs at the request of the Board of Supervisors. The supervisors want to know the schools' needs as they plan the county's finances.
The supervisors will decide whether - and when - another bond issue is needed.
Duff said the list of repairs and renovations represents the needs over the next five years. Some are needed immediately, while others are needed in two or three years, but all of them are serious needs, he said.
``I think we need to put in there everything we need to do over the next 10 years,'' said Jerry Canada, a board member. ``If we don't put in what we need, we will be telling the supervisors that we don't need it.''
Thomas said the School Board needs to include an inflation factor with its cost estimates to cover price increases for the projects before the construction begins.
"We will get our feet held to the fire by the supervisors if the price is higher than we estimate," Thomas said.
Duff said that the parking lots, driveways and sidewalks at some schools are beginning to crumble. If they are not repaired soon, he said, they will get worse.
Thomas said the School Board will decide next month on the amount and details of the capital improvement plan that will be presented to the supervisors.
``These are serious needs. We need all of them,'' Duff said.
by CNB