Long ... Wait ... Over ... For New Roof At Vernon's Center Road School

VERNON, CT — Work has begun to replace the roof at Vernon's Center Road School 21 months after the project was approved and nine months after the building materials showed up in town amid supply chain issues.

The project was in full swing Monday.

"The roof ... yes ... the roof is getting done," Vernon Superintendent of Schools said last week.

The plan is to have the work done before school starts for the 2023-24 academic year, he said.

The saga goes back to September 2021 and a drive up vote during the height of pandemic-related meeting restrictions. On a Tuesday night, voters approved an appropriation of $471,450 to fund replacement of the roof at Center Road School.

The total estimated project cost is $1.5 million. A state-administered school construction grant is covering $1,028,055, or 68.57 percent, of the cost, town officials said. Vernon's share is being allocated from the general fund balance. The vote was 25 yes and zero no.

A year later, the roofing material showed up in town — a few months late.

Macary said at the time the project fell victim to the supply chain woes plaguing the nation.

Macary said the school system was "obviously not giving it back," and it was being stored in the overflow parking lot at Vernon Center Middle School. Macary said the material would survive the wait because, after all, it is designed to be outside.

Last Friday, construction vehicles arrived at CRS. On Monday, roofing material was being moved the short distance from the middle school to CRS with workers already in action.