The Clay County School Board has approved an emergency roof replacement for the district’s old auditorium after recent storm damage exposed the aging structure.
School Board Chairman Benji Bailey said the storm peeled back the rubber roof, leaving it in poor condition. Bailey said the school’s insurance provider said a repair would cost around $7,500. Bailey said, though a replacement will cost the school system an estimated $46,000, it may be the better option as the roof will need to be replaced in the near future.
“Again, it is a little pricey as far as in excess of the repair, but it will provide us something that will last us a long time,” Bailey said.
Bailey said the roof needed to be addressed quickly, as the old auditorium is being used for storage. Finance Director Ashley White recommended approving the project as an emergency project to avoid waiting to go through the bid process.
“If we had to seek bids and do all that process, we would be a couple more months out,” White said.
Bailey said Turner Roofing will be handling the project. During the discussion, outside of Turner Roofing, the closest contractors who could do the repairs are over an hour away from Celina.
“Not a lot of contractors in this area provide this service, but it’s a rubber roof, and it is difficult to access as well, so we’re thankful that we do have someone here who can provide this service to us,” Bailey said.
Bailey said the school system will receive $7,500 from insurance to help cover the costs of the replacement. The board unanimously approved the project.
Bailey said the project reflects a broader effort to maintain existing facilities and avoid more costly replacements in the future.
“It’s mandatory for us to be able to take care of what we have,” Bailey said. “We could not replace a facility this size.”