An unsound roof can cause moisture damage anywhere in the school and lead to a host of maintenance problems. A leaking roof can seriously disrupt the learning environment at any time. Depending on where leaks occur and damages show up, classes might have to move. Books or other learning materials can be damaged.

District maintenance crews are vigilant in maintaining roofs. We conduct inspections to look for roof problems. Whenever we have people on a roof, whether roofers or maintenance people, we ask them to look for blisters, cracks and other problems. We want to expose minor school roofing problems before they turn into major problems. By regularly checking roofs for such telling signs as blisters, loose flashings or cracked caulking, we can head off minor problems before they become major repairs.

Maintenance is important, but so is regular replacement of roofs. Replacing roofs regularly is a cost of doing business, a necessary part of preventive maintenance. Replacing roofs regularly saves taxpayers and the district on energy costs by protecting insulation and preventing sheet metal rusting and other deterioration. Scheduled roof replacement costs money, but not nearly as much as not replacing them. The damage unchecked roofs can inflict on a building are much more costly in the long term.

If voters approve, the work to be done would be:

• Roof replacement for classrooms at Central Intermediate School at a cost of $398,000
• Roof replacement for classrooms at Hilldale Elementary School at a cost of $149,000
• Roof replacement for main core of Putnam City West High School at a cost of $926,000
• Replace roof in the two-story sections Western Oaks Elementary School at a cost of $391,000
• Replace roof over the band/orchestra wing at Western Oaks Middle School at a cost of $63,000
• Roof replacement for all of Project Strive at a cost of $115,000