Halifax County commissioners today allowed the school system to pull more than a half million dollars from its lottery funds to address roof repairs at three schools.

Assistant Superintendent Charles Chambliss presented the proposal to the board, which calls for the following:

$303,000 to replace the roof at Scotland Neck Primary School.

$262,000 to replace a classroom wing roof at Aurelian Springs Elementary School.

$118,000 to replace the multipurpose-cafeteria building roof at Everetts Elementary School.

The total is $683,000, which school system spokesman Keith Hoggard said in an email to rrspin.com  could cost less or more depending on the bids received.

Information provided in the agenda packet for today's commissioners' meeting shows the roof at Aurelian Springs is in mainly poor condition. "The Halifax Maintenance Department has made a valiant effort to repair many holes by installing patches and seam tape," the memo says.

The majority of the roof at Scotland Neck Primary has failed, the report notes, including shingles. "The shingle life has reached its maximum life expectance. The number and frequency of moisture entering the building envelope is worrisome."

The Everetts roof is the original roof, said Dean Vick, shop foreman for the school system. The school was built in 1958. "We got our money out of that."

The memo says, "The roof system has reached its useful life. Numerous repairs by the Halifax County Maintenance Department are evidenced on the roof surface and around rooftop projections. These repairs have slowed moisture intrusion into the building but not eliminated it. The roof has failed."