Won’t increase taxes

FALLS VILLAGE — Region One School District officials are working on a request for proposals for a $2 million roof repair job at Housatonic Valley Regional High School.Business Manager Sam Herrick said Monday, June 27, that the request for proposals would be ready by the end of this week or the beginning of next week.The estimates for the cost of the project were prepared by W. Albert Jacunski of Jacunski Humes Architects of Berlin, Conn. “They specialize in roofs,” Herrick said.Jacunski’s estimate is a total project cost of $2,054,800, with a state reimbursement of $665,909, which brings the net cost to Region One to $1,388,891.The project replaces the existing slate roofing on the original building and some additions — a total of about 60,000 square feet.The Building Committee, with Phil Hart of Cornwall representing the Region One Board of Education, decided to replace 4,800-square-feet of slate at the front of the school, to preserve the look of the 1939 original.The remaining 57,000 square feet will be replaced by asphalt shingles, for reasons of cost and efficiency. “They are high quality and come with a 30-year warranty,’ Herrick said.The project, which will happen next summer, will not cause a sudden increase in future Region One budgets. Herrick said the budget that passed in May, for the 2011-12 fiscal year, includes $126,000 for the third and final year of early retirement payments for veteran teachers who took the offer two years ago.The roof project, bonded over 20 years, will have an annual payment of between $125,000 to $130,000. The difference in the bottom line for the 2012-13 budget, and beyond, is thus relatively small.Region One includes the six towns of Cornwall, Kent, Sharon, Salisbury, Falls Village and North Canaan.Herrick said the time is right. “The roof is 73 years old. It doesn’t really owe us anything.”

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