Heartland Roofing presented a district-wide roofing assessment and budget options and the board scheduled a special meeting to consider bond timing and structure.

Inspection findings and cost estimates: Zach of Heartland Roofing reviewed infrared inspections showing wet insulation in multiple buildings and mapped roof conditions as green (good), yellow (fair) and red (poor). He said replacing every red area would be in the roughly $15,000,000 range; using selective full replacements plus EPDM overlays for other areas would likely reduce that package to approximately $6,000,000. Using infrared imagery, Zach identified saturation and estimated site-specific wet-insulation replacement costs: early childhood/early ed areas saturated (total replacement recommended), intermediate school damage estimated at about $100,000, elementary school about $40,000, administration building about $23,000 and middle school about $3,000.

Lifecycle and insurance: Zach said a properly installed full system can last 30+ years and would carry substantial warranties; he cautioned that if moisture-damaged insulation and decking are not addressed, decking deterioration would raise costs significantly and could increase replacement costs by roughly 40%. He said overlays that are properly installed are treated by insurers as brand-new roof systems for rating purposes.

Financing considerations and next steps: Administration discussed options for financing, including ESCO-style financing, and noted that a multi-year package (the $6M–$15M range) would likely require $500,000–$800,000 per year from capital outlay or debt service if pursued as a bond or financed through an ESCO. The superintendent advised the board that to place a bond on the March ballot staff would need a December resolution (about a 60-day notification window) and recommended a special workshop next week so architects and finance staff could present options.

Board reaction and scheduling: One board member pressed for an efficiency audit before placing large debt before voters, noting that a $30 million bond could carry $25 million in interest over time and urged caution and additional review. The board then voted to hold a special meeting Monday, Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. to discuss the bond and related options; members clarified the special meeting would likely include staff and consultants and would not include public comment per a board member’s request.

Notable quote: Zach cautioned, “If we don't address the issue, the decking will deteriorate,” emphasizing the risk of delaying work and higher long-term costs.

Follow-up: Administration will post the full roofing report online for community review and will present architects and finance options at the special board workshop. The board asked staff to prepare bond-option scenarios and costs, and one member requested an efficiency audit or additional transparency on current spending before taking a bond question to voters.