Sampson County Schools needs just under $1.5 million to handle a bevy of capital outlay issues, most notably within athletic departments at schools from Midway to Union, Lakewood to Hobbton. Those needs range from replacing air condition units to purchasing security cameras, replacing and adding bleachers, constructing bathrooms in athletic areas and building a track.

The Board of Education approved the laundry list of needs earlier this week and will forward that request on to the Sampson County Board of Education for its review and potential funding in the 2009-10 budget.

Board members did not discuss the list of needs at Monday’s meeting, merely reviewed it and, after listening to Anthony Vann, executive director of auxiliary services for the school system, voted to forward the request on to commissioners.

Vann discussed the needs, detailing requests from each school.

At Lakewood High School, $200,000 is budgeted for the long-awaited construction of a new athletic track, as well as a new concessions building for $65,000; at Hobbton High School, the plan includes constructing a new softball/soccer restroom facility budgeted for $55,000; at Midway Middle School $11,000 is set aside for athletic field dugouts, as well as $22,000 for additional bleachers and $6,000 for additional athletic fencing; At the new Midway and Union high schools, $92,000 is budgeted at each school for baseball and softball fencing ($85,000) and $7,000 for “track marking” and at Roseboro-Salemburg Elementary, $55,000 is being set aside for a new restroom/concessions building.

The gym at Clement Elementary will also see a complete bleacher replacement to its visitor’s side ($40,000) and a conversion of locker rooms to storage areas ($6,400) if commissioners approve the requests.

There is also $32,000 budgeted for fire alarm synchronization at Roseboro-Salemburg Middle. At a committee meeting earlier this month, Vann told members how important it was to get the alarms set together.

“We have heard some concern from the teachers and administration out there,” he said. “If they are outside in the portables, they can’t really hear the alarms or they are not going off at the same time. I think that it is crucial that we get all of it synchronized so that the system will be able to alert everyone at the same time.”

To that end, the entire school system is proposing $26,800 for district-wide security system updates, as well as $18,000 for upgrades to fire systems and inspections.

Vann also noted the importance of adding cameras and GPS systems for school buses in the system.

“We are requesting systems for half of our fleet (11 buses of 22),” Vann said. “But having these on board will not only help as a safety issue (for students and drivers), but it will also allow us to see exactly where a bus is in case there is ever an emergency, we can just pull it up and the computer and see the bus’s exact location.”

The installation of the system is budgeted for $170,000.

Also included in the budget for the entire system is asbestos removal; vehicle replacements and heating and air condition replacements.

Commissioners are expected to vote on the budget by June 30.

To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 139 or send email to sisports@myclintonnc.com.

Sampson County Schools

2009-2010 Capital Outlay requests

Clement Elementary —

Convert locker rooms to storage areas $6,400

Gym bleacher replacement $40,000

Additional classroom casework $9,500

C.E. Perry —

HVAC replacements $7,700

Additional stone/grading (for bus turn around) $5,800

Hargrove —

Install acoustic ceiling in lobby $6,600

Enlarge outside storage building $9,400

Additional parking/paving $28,000

HVAC replacements $27,000

Hobbton Elementary —

Additional electrical outlets $7,700

HVAC replacements $15,000

Hobbton Middle —

Additional security cameras $4,500

HVAC replacements $16,000

Hobbton High —

Softball/soccer restroom facility $55,000

Replace/repair stage lights $14,000

HVAC replacements $8,000

Additional furniture $14,000

Lakewood High —

Construction of track $200,000

Install canopy lighting $4,675

Construct concessions building $65,000

Midway Elementary —

HVAC replacements $14,600

Repaving at bus parking area $27,000

Midway Middle —

Install athletic field dugouts $11,000

Additional bleachers $22,000

Additional athletic fencing $6,600

Midway High —

Track marking $7,000

Baseball/softball fencing $85,000

Plain View —

Enlarge outside storage building $9,400

Roseboro-Salemburg Middle —

Restrooms/concessions building $55,000

Fire alarm synchronization $32,000

Salemburg Elementary —

Enlarge outside storage building $9,400

Union Elementary —

HVAC replacements $22,000

Replace music room flooring $11,500

Additional security lights $6,500

Union Intermediate —

Additional parking $22,000

HVAC replacements $13,400

Additional outside lighting $14,500

Union Middle —

Bandroom renovations $5,000

Union High —

Track marking $7,000

Baseball/softball fencing $85,000

Bus garage —

Cameras/GS system for buses $170,000

District wide —

Mobile classroom lease and associated cost $82,000

Security system upgrades $26,800

Fire system/upgrade inspect $18,000

Replacement blinds/furniture $27,600

Asbestos removal $25,000

Vehicle replacement (tech, plant, ops) $85,000

District HVAC replacements $28,000

Total county capital appropriation $1,489,875.00

Source: Sampson County Board of Education