Mehlville Superintendent John Cary said in July 2001 that he was pleased with the progress being made during the summer on the first projects being performed as part of the Proposition P districtwide building improvement program.

Proposition P was a nearly $68.4 million bond issue funded by a 49-cent tax-rate increase when approved by voters more than five years ago. However, a final budget revision approved in December raises the Proposition P budget to $89,137,440 — a roughly 30.3-percent increase — about $20.7 million more than the nearly $68.4 million building improvement program envisioned in 2000.

The 13th installment of the Proposition P chronology, based on Mehlville documentation and published accounts in the Call, resumes during the summer of 2001 when roofing projects were under way at four schools — Mehlville Senior High, Beasley Elementary, Bierbaum Elementary and Blades Elementary. Also under way were the removal of asbestos floor tile and the installation of new tile at Mehlville Senior High School.

Contracts totaling $1,514,158 for the roof removal and replacement at the four schools were unanimously approved by the board May 29, 2001. In awarding the contracts, the board accepted alternate bids for “an additional ply or layer of roofing” recommended by district staff and the district’s roof consultant. The added ply will increase the life of the new roofs by up to five years.

“… We’re real happy with the progress,” Cary told the Call. “These roofs were the worst of the roofs. So we really had our fingers kind of crossed because we didn’t know how bad they were. They were saturated with water and we didn’t know how bad the decking would be.”

The majority of the roofing work is scheduled to be completed before the start of school.

The chronology continues next week.