Bibb School Board Approves Emergency Repairs for Elementary School Roof

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Bibb County School Board approved thousands of dollars in repairs to an elementary school roof Thursday.

Recent rainfall has soaked insulation on the top of Rice Elementary School, mainly because the roof is old.

District officials did a survey of the building earlier this month and took thermal pictures all over the school.  That survey revealed six of eight sections of the roof had severe water damage.

School officials say the expense shouldn’t cost the district more than $118,000.

“We are looking at a process called the urethane foam application,” says deputy superintendent, Dr. Kelley Castlin-Gacutan.  “That application would involve a foam being layered on top of the roof, and that application should stop the rain from coming into the building.”

The school board is expected to hold a public hearing and then approve a budget for the next fiscal year Monday at 6.

Stay with 41NBC and 41NBC.com for the latest on the budget.

Parent Wants Change in 2013-2014 School Calendar

A Bibb County parent says he wants a change for the teachers and faculty in the school calendar. Arthur Thompson told board members teachers should not have to come back to work until July 8.

The proposed calendar calls for teachers to come back from vacation on July 5, just one day after the holiday.

He says if the school board approves a change, it would show it’s listening to teachers’ concerns.

“I think it would be a huge moral booster,” says Thomspon. “This is something that has been a great concern for a lot of teachers and administrators and this here would be starting to send a clear message from the board and Dr. Smith letting them know, ‘Hey – I hear ya, I’m listening to ya, I’ll do what I can,’ and I take him at his word. I think he’s a good man, and I think he will see what he can do.”

Thompson also asked board members to consider changing when students come back to school.  Right now, they’re set to return on Thursday, August 1.  Thompson says that doesn’t leave teachers enough time to get their classrooms ready, and the date should be pushed back to the following Monday.

Thompson added he spoke to more than 150 teachers, and will continue to bring forth any other concerns other teachers and parents have.

Smith says teachers brought this topic up at the listening sessions this week, and he will look over the school calendar and make any changes, if possible.