KENANSVILLE — Before Gov. Bev Perdue can begin to draw down state lottery money designated for public schools, Duplin County commissioners and school officials have held out their own hands, seeking all but 14 cents of the $2.5 million promised to Duplin children.

As North Carolina finds herself $2 billion in the hole this budget year, and times have gotten tough, the governor has gotten tougher. Recently Perdue announced the redistribution of funds, essentially reallocating lottery money previously designated for the public school systems of the state.

However, commissioners and school board members are hoping their actions encumbering, or earmarking funds for school projects will keep the money from being swept away.

Monday, it was unanimously decided by commissioners to have their chairman sign a joint request with the chairwoman of the school board to earmark funds for seven school projects.

Long overdue issues, will be addressed, with the top priority being given to repairing and replacing bleachers, said Carolyn Olivarez, the Duplin County Schools finance officer. “The first project is to repair/replace all bleachers at all high schools, middle schools, and K-8 schools. It is required by our insurance to bring them up to safety standards dards and will be required by the state,” she presented to commissioners.

Following the installation/repair of the bleachers, will be window upgrades at James Kenan High School and Wallace-Rose Hill High School. New heat pumps and air conditioners will follow at the home of the James Kenan Tigers, with similar renovations to be made at Charity Middle School. The final project proposed is to replace the existing boilers at East Duplin High School.

Total cost estimated is just over $2.5 million.

“We just wanted to get as much of that money encumbered as we possibly could,” said schools maintenance director Bobby Norwood. “I would love to do all of it, every little bit of it (all the maintenance needed), but $2.5 million is only going to go so far.” Norwood commented that he hopes the new windows will lower electric bills.

“Also, these are projects that I wouldn’t normally request,” the maintenance director told commissioners. “You know our capital outlay request every year? As far as the maintenance side, these are hundreds of thousands of dollars apiece. And that is something I wouldn’t normally request from you.”

Commissioner Zettie Williams motioned that the chairman co-sign the joint application to withdraw all but 14 cents of the lottery money. It was decided to proceed in a 5-0 vote, with commissioner Harold Raynor absent from the meeting.

Michael Connolly can be reached at 910-592-8137 ext. 120 or can be emailed at sicity@myclintonnc.com