Supporters hope to show need for bond

Douglas County School District Director of Maintenance Gary Cullen knelt on the roof of Carson Valley Middle School on Monday, running his hands over an area of weather-warped composite shingles.

The problem with the roof of Building B is that the tar and underlying matter contain asbestos, Cullen said. As long as the roof does not begin to crumble, it shouldn't pose a health risk to students.

"But it needs to be replaced," he said.

The roof is more than 40 years old. A new metal roof would cost about $500,000; it would "encapsulate" the asbestos and better withstand the elements, Cullen said.

The school district is hoping voters approve a continuation bond in November that would fund the new roof and other capital improvement projects, those large-scale construction projects exceeding $100,000.

The district currently funds capital improvements through a government services tax received based on the district's 10-cent property tax rate. That rate is guaranteed by having outstanding bond payments. When the district's existing bonds retire in 2011, they will lose that revenue.

The district also receives a $1,600 fee from every building permit in the county. The building slowdown has reduced that source of revenue for capital improvements by 80 percent, according to District Chief Financial Officer Holly Luna.

District officials have said that passing the bond will not raise taxes, but will only ensure an existing tax rate goes towards schools. Denying the bond would not necessarily lower taxes, as another county entity would likely grab the rate.

If approved, the continuation bond would fund about $43 million worth of capital improvement projects over the next 10 years.

"Voters should know that we are trying," Cullen said. "Our custodial staff and maintenance crews have done a remarkable job maintaining the buildings with a limited amount of resources. But the schools, many of them 30 years old, just wear out. Even if enrollment is down, there is still the same wear and tear on the facilities, on the heating, plumbing and infrastructure."

Cullen seemed most concerned about replacing original heating and air systems at Whittell High School and Jacks Valley Elementary School.

"The 30-year mark for an HVAC system is really pushing the envelope," he said.

Jack Valley's boilers were installed around 1980. New boilers would cost about $200,000.

"If there were complete failure, the school would have to be temporarily closed until emergency replacement could occur," Luna said. "There is no available contingency, and it would have to come directly from our general maintenance funds. This would have a domino effect: The sole expenditure could consume as much as 16 percent of the district wide maintenance budget, resulting in fewer available dollars for general repairs and upkeep."

Luna said the general maintenance funds are not intended to cover large capital projects.

"Without the continuance bond, the capital funds will essentially cease to exist after 2011," she said.

Cullen also climbed to the top of Douglas High School. He pointed to the roof above the commons area where large patches of yellow foam showed through cracked gray coating.

"We did some infrared testing and found some weak, saturated areas," he said. "If this roof fails, it will start leaking like a sieve."

The roof was constructed in 1976. A new roof for both the commons and gym area would cost about $600,000.

"Structural integrity of the roof may be compromised if not replaced, and additional costs may be incurred as a result," Luna said. "If major damage is caused to the gym floors as a result of leaking roofs, replacement of the floors may be necessary. Insurance coverage could increase. There could be interruption to athletic events due to safety issues and the inability of the school to offer gym space for physical education classes."

Other top projects include replacing original gas lines, an electrical system and a ceiling at Gardnerville Elementary School ($3 million); re-keying classroom interior doors for emergency purposes at seven elementary schools and two middle schools ($160,000); revamping fire alarm systems district-wide ($2.2 million); and making all schools compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act ($1 million).

"It's kind of been a Band-Aid situation, replacing things as they fail," Cullen said. "But we've reached that point where there are too many needs."