By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

PAWTUCKET — Despite the frustration expressed by three members, the School Committee approved a list of school renovation bond projects that includes a $200,000 roof replacement for the School Administration Building at 286 Main Street.

The roof was among eight projects on a prioritized list that was submitted to the School Committee by Joseph Scallin, director of physical plant. The projects will be funded with a November 2006 bond referendum for $1.5 million. Scallin told the committee that his recommended projects total approximately $1.3 million, with some $200,000 kept in reserve for unanticipated projects.
However, the news from Scallin that the former Registry of Motor Vehicles building — only recently acquired by the city during a controversial lease/purchase agreement — now needs a new roof seemed to surprise and vex several of the committee members.
Scallin said the roof has been leaking in numerous areas for the past two years and that repairs must be made to prevent the building from developing further damage. He said that while the roof could be patched, it would prove more cost-effective in the long run to replace it with new material.
School Committeewoman Joanne Bonollo noted that there are other schools where leaks are causing major problems, most notably Winters Elementary, where buckets are frequently in place, and Slater Junior High, where rain infiltration of the aging brickwork forced the closure of a stairwell.
Committeemen John Baxter and James Chellel, Jr. also questioned Scallin about whether the roof at the administration building should take precedence over school buildings that serve a greater number of students. Baxter asked Scallin if the money earmarked for 286 Main Street is “the best use of that $200,000?,” while an agitated Chellel said, “This is killing me! We took such a hit on that lease /purchase agreement.”
Referring to the building’s former owner, businessman Louis Yip, Chellel added, “Can’t we go to Mr. Yip and say, ‘Listen, you sold us a lemon on the roof?”
However, Scallin remained firm that the repair was needed. He said that the leak situation at the Winters School is the result of poorly designed drainage and said the problem is being addressed. He added that to re-point the brickwork at Slater Junior High will cost an estimated $800-900,000, so this will have to be done with future capital improvement funds.
By a 5-1 vote, the committee approved Scallin’s list of projects, which also includes fire alarm upgrades of $150-200,000 for the Winters and Little Elementary Schools, the renovation of the Goff Junior High auditorium for $450-500,000, and various projects at the A/E Services building totaling $70-80,000. Additionally, $75,000 is slated for roof repairs for the Baldwin School, $30,000 to replace the front door at Shea High School and $40,000 to improve drainage on the Vine Street side of Goff Junior High.
In other matters, the committee held a reorganization vote and unanimously chose Gordon Gould as its new chairman and Nicole Nordquist as vice chairman. Committeeman John Baxter gave up his two-year position as chairman to concentrate on running for city council.
Also on Monday, the committee voted to formally adopt a “working budget” figure of approximately $97.8 million, which contains an anticipated $2.8 million shortfall in revenue. Business Manager Thomas Scanlon said the figure, based on the most recent audit reports, is the most accurate one at this point as the committee enters into budget talks with the city council.
Scanlon also said that the Commissioner of Education has denied the School Committee’s request for waivers from state mandates on special education and bus transportation. As such, the committee, acting on the advice of its legal counsel, also voted to send a petition to the City Council requesting more funding.
Baxter told the committee that in a recent conversation with City Council President Mary Bray, she indicated that the council, through a delegation of three or less members, would be willing to meet with a similar delegation from the School Committee to address the deficit situation.