Dale Acting School Supt. Ky Wilkins this week updated the Board of Education on the damage sustained in the recent snowstorm.
“We had a moisture test done everywhere,” Wilkins informed board members, referring to the new high school and new gymnasium. “We’re dry,” he noted, saying those who had inspected the buildings had assured him of that.
“I need the insurance adjuster to tell me we’re good to go. We’re in pretty good shape. I want the insurance adjuster to tell me everything is okay and we need to know how much money we’re going to get,” Wilkins said.
During an emergency meeting of the board last week, Wilkins emphasized to them, “We are under a Fire Suppression Watch. There is no fire suppression in the new high school nor in the new gym.”
He told the board at Monday’s night meeting this week, “Think we got all the leaks fixed. But we’re still on Fire Watch,” he added.
During the snowstorm, the gymnasium and the high school had damage.
Wilkins said during the emergency meeting, “The fire suppression line in the new high school office broke. About 95 percent of the damage is in the high school office,” he advised board members last week.
Wilkins said the damage in the gym was in the lobby and concession area and the family restroom.
This week he informed them there was water in the wall of the concession stand in the gym and in the women’s restroom.
Wilkins explained that once he knows how much money the school district will receive, he plans to start repairs, beginning with the floor area in the high school.
He figures to have that done during Spring Break.
In the emergency meeting on Feb. 23, the board declared an emergency related to expenditures incurred by the winter storm of 2021.
Members also approved hiring of contractors as needed for repairs and restoration of facilities.
Wilkins said at that meeting last week, “This would allow us to move forward without having to take bids. It will take care of anything down the line,” he added.
He told the board out of pocket expenses for the damage and repairs will be $2,500 and that is all.
He’s just waiting for the insurance adjuster to provide him with how much it’s going to cost.
During his superintendent’s report this week, Wilkins provided a detailed financial update comparing the current fiscal year to the previous one.
Expenditures through February of this year totaled $3,159,937. Through February of 2020, that number was $3,351,603.
The district has saved $191,666 from a year ago.
Actual local revenue through February of 2020 totaled $420,622 and through last month this year that amount is $445,636, up by more than $25,000.
The building fund balance in February of 2020 was $76,019 and through last month the balance was $108,285, an increase of more than $32,000.
Wilkins noted the cash balance is down from a year ago in February when it was $716,871 compared to $507,676 last month, a decline of $209,195.
He indicated that can be attributed to the cut in state aid he pointed to where in February of 2020 the district had received $2,061,069 and through February of this year the amount is $1,809,270 a $251,799 drop.
The district has received $241,000 in Stimulus money and the county education sales tax balance stands at $192,686.
In other business, the board approved a 2020-2021 audit contract and engagement letter with Bledsoe, Hewett and Gullekson.