Roanoke Rapids Graded School District Superintendent Dain Butler told county commissioners today the system still has to demolish the old school and also has to demolish a house on 916 Park Avenue to make way for new parking.

While the school system will cover the cost of the house demolition out of $17,000 in capital outlay funds, Butler asked commissioners for an amendment on the original school loan to cover the cost of building the new parking lot.

Parking lot construction will not begin until the entire Manning project, including demolition of the old school is complete, he told the board.

He said worst case scenario for the parking lot is $180,000 to create a lot with 55 spaces.

In construction of the new school, the system has built up $212,000 in contingency funds from the original $19.2 million loan.

To use the contingency money to create the parking space, Branch, Banking & Trust would have to agree to an amendment of the original loan.

“Adding that wasn’t in the original contract,” County Attorney Glynn Rollins said. “We have to make contact with BB&T. It does require getting approval from BB&T.”

Commissioner Linda Brewer made the motion to contact BB&T. The motion passed unanimously.

The school opens January 2 and a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour will be held December 17 at 2 p.m.

In other matters today:

The board received a clean audit report from Martin Starnes and Associates.

Its available fund balance was reported at the end of the fiscal year at $16,099,911, which is 28.11 percent of expenditures.

Vernon Bryant was elected chairman and Rives Manning vice-chairman.

Manning nominated Bryant and Marcelle Smith nominated Manning.