The Dare County Board of Education gathered for a special meeting Tuesday, Sept. 17 to consider contracts for replacing the roof on Cape Hatteras Secondary School and indoor restorations. Board members met at the Administrative Office in Nags Head. All were in attendance.

Candy Tilley, finance director, first explained how the interlocal agreement between Dare County and the Dare County Board of Education works for payment purposes. Once she receives the invoice from the project as well as FEMA reimbursements, Tilley will send it directly to the finance staff at Dare County. The county will then pay for the repairs. The agreement does not include labor or bus transfers.

David Twiddy made a motion to approve the interlocal agreement. Margaret Lawler seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved by the board.

The board then considered a contract with Southern Metal Systems, Inc. to replace the roof on CHSS. The engineer overseeing the project, Chuck Howard of SMS, will be in charge of construction administration. Along with Russ Gurganus, the board’s point of contact, Howard will be on site for the entirety of the project.

Howard’s crew was scheduled to begin work Friday, Sept. 20 and it is estimated the roof will take about six to eight weeks to complete. The roof will be slate gray with a metal, low slope. Howard has designed the roof to withstand 140 mph winds and it comes with a 40 year warranty.

Superintendent John Farrelly expressed the board’s awareness that there are several projects taking place simultaneously to repair the school. “Access back into the building depends on how these projects are sequenced and when,” he said. Farrelly and the rest of the Board of Education are working to ensure the projects are completed effectively and in a timely manner.

The total cost of the roof replacement is $407,000. Bandon McPherson addressed the fact that there is no disaster declaration for Dare County yet, but he anticipates there will be one. He said, “Once the declaration comes into effect, public assistance and grant funding will be part of the analysis for which FEMA can reimburse the Board of Education and the county for funds spent to make the district better.”

Mary Ellon Ballance, board vice-chair, made a motion to approve the contract with Southern Metal Systems pending legal review. With a second from Twiddy, the contract was unanimously approved.

The second contract presented to the board for consideration was with Cotton USA for restoration services to CHSS. The company came highly recommended to Gurganus, who will again be the point of contact for this project. Estimated project completion is eight working days.

Ballance made a motion to approve the contract pending legal review by McPherson. The concern was that contract did not include travel and accommodations for the crew. Lawler seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved by the board.

Farrelly mentioned his future plans to update the media center. He said he wants it “built up to 2019 needs of students.” That project will be addressed at a later meeting.

The board closed their meeting by recognizing how everyone is raving about the support from the community.

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