Hoover school board approves $2 million in roofing, mechanical upgrades amid financial pressures

HOOVER, Alabama - The Hoover school board tonight agreed to spend nearly $2 million to replace the roof at Trace Crossings Elementary School, do mechanical upgrades at four elementary schools and build a carpool canopy at Riverchase Elementary.

The vote appeared to be unanimous, but two board members - Derrick Murphy and Stephen Presley -- made a point of questioning whether it was wise to spend this much money on capital projects when the board is trying to find places to cut its budget.

Presley asked whether school officials had explored every other opportunity for delaying such large expenditures in pressing financial times and whether the repairs and construction were really necessary right now.

Jeff Battles, director of operations for Hoover City Schools, said the new roof and repairs are necessary right now in order to protect Trace Crossings from further problems and make sure Trace Crossings and other schools have proper air conditioning.

The current roof at Trace Crossings is the original roof from when the school was built in 1991, Battles said. It was meant to last 20 years and has gone beyond that, but it's wearing thin and has rips in it, he said. Water has infiltrated the school at least twice already, he said.

The Hoover school system has someone on staff with more than 35 years of roofing experience, and that person thinks a replacement is in order now, Battles said.

Presley asked whether the low bid is a good deal and whether it's a good idea to go with the low bidder in this case. Battles said he thinks the low bids for the roof and mechanical repairs both are "bargains" submitted by reputable contractors.

Standard Roofing of Montgomery submitted the lowest of five bids for the roofing job at $922,218. H&M Mechanical Co. submitted the lowest of five bids for the mechanical upgrades and carpool canopy at $998,900. The next lowest bid was $1.2 million.

The four schools slated to get mechanical upgrades are Trace Crossings, South Shades Crest, Bluff Park and Shades Mountain elementary schools.

Superintendent Andy Craig noted the roofing job covers about 91,000 square feet of roofing and said Battles and his crew are masters at propping up equipment to keep it working as long as possible instead of replacing it. However, this roof and equipment are past their time, he said.

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Hoover school board approves $2 million in roofing, mechanical upgrades amid financial pressures