The Opp City Schools will take money left over from its bond issue that financed the new Opp Elementary School and use it to make improvements at the middle school, Superintendent Michael Smithart said Tuesday.

The Opp Board of Education agreed to move into an agreement with McKee and Associates to provide architectural services for roof renovations at Opp Middle School. The projected cost of the project is $400,000 and it would entail re-covering an old flat gravel roof over the gymnasium and two classrooms and adding a standing seam metal roof, as well as installing new gutters and downspouts.

“When we were financing the new elementary school, we made the decision to use $1.3 million in PSF (general capital purchase/construction) funds,” said Linda Banks, OCS chief financial officer. “As a result, we have some bond issue money left over for other capital projects, and we’ve been informed we can use them for other buildings within Opp City Schools. Because this is bond money, there are constraints where we have to expend it within a certain time period.”

Tuesday, the board approved its five-year capital improvement plan, and the OMS gymnasium roof was at the top of the priority list.

“We looked at our greatest need, after we saw we’d have some money left over from the bond,” Smithart said. “Anyone who has recently been in that gym will appreciate the move (the board) has just made. The first step is that we need to engage the services of an architectural firm, and we’re going with McKee and Associates because they did the work on the elementary school and we were very pleased with the job they did.

“After we’ve got some drawings and things made up, we can begin to let bids for this project.”

In other business, the board:

Approved a $12.88 million budget for the 2010 fiscal year.

Approved the following personnel moves: accepting the resignations of Jo Ann Estes, bus driver, MaDonna Russell, bus driver, and Javis Nelson, HVAC technician; employing Juanita Jacobs, bus driver, John Lawrence, bus driver, and Bobby Baker, HVAC technician; allowing family medical leave for Shanna Boothe, OES teacher.

Announced five position salaries will not be funded with local or state funds, but instead with federal stimulus funds. Those salaries are two full-time teachers at Opp High School and three part-time remediation and preschool assistant positions at OES.

The next meeting of the board will be Thurs., Oct. 22, at 8:30 a.m. at the central office.