Superintendent to Request $552K for Seven Oaks Elementary Roof

The roof on has "minor leaks" in the gym storage room and other areas of the school, according to Principal Carol Wingard.

"It's time for the roof to be replaced," Wingard said.

The roof replacement project for the 20-year-old school is listed as high priority on Baltimore County Public Schools' Proposed FY 2013 State Capital Budget Request.

Superintendent Joe A. Hairston plans to present the request to the school board Aug. 9. The board is scheduled to vote on the request Sept. 6, according to the FY 2013 Capital Budget Schedule.

The system plans to lobby the state for $552,000, in addition to $250,000 already allocated toward the project last year, according to the budget request.

"I'm very pleased that Baltimore County is making this a priority. They are very mindful about caring for our buildings," the principal said. 

County Councilman David Marks said he supported the budget request, which also includes proposed projects for schools in Towson and Parkville.

"Although money is tight, I'm happy the school system is seeking funding for smaller improvements like roof repairs and air conditioning upgrades at our local schools," Marks said in an email.

State Sen. Kathy Klausmeier, chairwoman of the county's state Senate delegation, said she also supported and planned to vote in favor of funding the project. The state legislature is expected to vote on the capital budget between April and May of 2012.

"That isn't even a cosmetic thing," Klausmeier said. "If we need a new roof, it's about time we get it."

She and the other delegates who represent the Perry Hall area "work hard to get money for county schools," she added. 

Klausmeier suggested, however, that the county also consider adding air conditioning units and renovating the school's air ducts, "especially if it adds just a small amount of money to the project."

Air conditioning was added to , she said, by including it in another proposed project.

Charles Herndon, a public schools spokesman, said officials would take Klausmeier's suggestion into account.

"Everything is dependent on how much funding is available annually," Herndon said.

He said he had no further details on how the county arrived at the $802,000 budget toward the roofing project. Herndon also had no further details on the county's bidding process for the project.

A WBAL-TV news I-Team investigation recently examined the funding process for county roofing projects. According to the report, the system has avoided going through a formal bidding process for roofing contractors by joining the Pennsylvania Education Joint Purchasing Council, a co-op that claims to save members money.

The council's favored roofing contractor, however, Tremco Commercial Sealants & Waterproofing, has been shown to charge higher than average prices, according to the report. 

Herndon said he was unable to verify if Tremco Commercial Sealants & Waterproofing was expected to perform the roof replacement at Seven Oaks Elementary.