Major Roofing Projects Slated to Begin Soon At AHS, JRTC   Low Moor, VA (Feb. 23, 2024) - Much-needrfBot roofing replacement work at Alleghany High School and Jackson River Technical Center is scheduled to begin soon. Contractors will follow a schedule that will minimize classroom disruptions as they carry out the work. Alleghany Highlands Public Schools recently awarded a contract for the roof replacements to AAR Roofing & Sheet Metal Co. of Kernersville, N.C.  The estimated cost is $2.5 million. The work will be paid for through federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds that were approved by Congress during the COVID-19 pandemic. ESSER is part of the American Recovery Act.  Local dollars have not been required to support this project. “We are hoping the actual cost comes in under what we budgeted,” said Eric Tyree, director of maintenance and transportation for AHPS. “There have been multiple issues with the roofing at both of these facilities over recent years as both roofing systems are beyond their warranty periods.” Contractors are expected to begin the work within two weeks, unless weather causes delays. Work will be carried out between the hours of 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. and timed to minimize noise disruption in classrooms.  “The work that causes the most noise will occur before students occupy the building. Once the contractors get the roof torn off and the insulation down, the noise will decrease dramatically,” Tyree said. The contractors will replace roofing insulation over approximately 90 percent of the buildings. The new roof insulation will be slightly tapered to direct rainwater toward storm drains. That measure will eliminate ponding of water on the roofs, which causes deterioration. The work is expected to take four to five months, with the estimated completion  date sometime in July.  AHPS leaders Kim Halterman and Melinda Snead-Johnson note that the roofing project will benefit the entire community because all AHPS students use AHS and JRTC. “We appreciate the flexibility and support of our students and our full community as we work on this project,” Halterman and Snead-Johnson said.  AHPS was created when Alleghany County Public Schools, Covington City Public Schools, and Jackson River Technical Center merged in July 2022. The school division is jointly funded by Alleghany County and the City of Covington. AHPS serves approximately 2,700 students. AHPS news and events are regularly updated on Facebook at AHPublicSchools and Instagram at ahpublicschools. Information is also available at www.ahps.k12.va.us.

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