By Scott Elpers

As planned, El Paso and Oaklawn elementaries will get the first slice of the $66.6 million bond issue. The Derby Public Schools board voted 6-0 to accept a bid for new roofs on each building at its final meeting of the fiscal year this past Friday afternoon.

Tom Snodgrass, director of operations for the school district, presented the board with three bids the district received for roof replacements.

The board voted to accept the lowest bid of the three companies from Canton-based Arrow Roofing, which will replace both roofs for a total of $418,414. The roofing company bid Oaklawn at $181,210 and El Paso at $237,205. The winning bid was $346,586 less than the amount budgeted for roof replacements at both schools in the bond budget.

“I hope this is an omen for future bids out of the bond money,” Snodgrass said. “I don’t know if we’ll be this lucky throughout, but it’s a good place to start.”  

The district originally budgeted the two new roofs at $8.50 a square foot.

“That’s where the market was when the budget was set,” Snodgrass said. “Turns out we are getting it for significantly less than that.”

Snodgrass told the board the district will move along with the project immediately following the approval of the bid. As part of the bid, Arrow Roofing agreed to replace both roofs in 65 calendar days, Snodgrass said.

The district has not used Arrow Roofing for past projects, but Snodgrass said he has looked into a list of work references.

“They’re solid,” he said. “They have a good reputation.”

Arrow Roofing will work on El Paso first since it is the most-complicated of the two projects. The school has several skylights on the roof, which will be permanently removed, Snodgrass said.  

“There is artificial lighting (at El Paso),” he said. “When it’s dark outside, and those lights are on, El Paso is lit well.”

The company will transition from El Paso to work Oaklawn, which will be completed when school is in session.

“It can be done,” Snodgrass said. “It’s been done in other places.”

The district also received bids for both schools from Roof Mechanics for $499,640 and Wray Roofing for $594,730.