MIDDLEBURY — Addison Central Supervisory Union residents on Tuesday overwhelmingly endorsed a $1 million bond to replace the failing asphalt shingle roof at Middlebury Union Middle School with a standing seam metal room.
Townspeople in Bridport, Cornwall, Ripton, Salisbury, Shoreham, Weybridge and Middlebury collectively voted 1,881-899 in favor of the 20-year bond issue.
“We are pleased,” UD-3 board Chairman Leonard Barrett said, adding he was also gratified by the district’s 1,844-919 endorsement of the UD-3 budget (see related story).
“I think it says a lot about the work the teachers and administration have been doing,” Barrett said. “The school board has tried to keep costs as low as possible.”
The current 1998 asphalt shingle roof at MUMS has reached the end of its useful life earlier than expected. Ice buildup in the winter and leaks during rainy days are now fairly commonplace at the school. The contractor who installed the original roof is no longer in business.
MUMS officials said the new standing seam metal roof will come with a 20-year weather-tight warranty and a 35-year finish warranty, though it can be expected to last for around 50 years.
The overall $1,012,491 project budget will also provide for a vented nail-base insulation system for the MUMS gym and cafeteria, air sealing for the mechanical room in the attic, and re-roofing of a maintenance outbuilding.
The bond is expected to add an average of $10 annually to the tax bill of a $200,000 property in the seven ACSU towns during the 20-year life of the bond.
Barrett said roof construction could begin as soon as the last week of school, at least in areas that will not disrupt classroom activities. He expects the project will be completed before classes resume this fall.
Reporter John Flowers is at [email protected].