The Roanoke Rapids Graded School District on Tuesday received approval to draw Repair and Renovation funds totaling $425,000 for several districtwide painting and renovation projects.

Superintendent Bennett Jones and Maintenance Supervisor Tony Alston appeared before county commissioners to request the funds for districtwide painting, renovations to the Chaloner Middle School bathrooms, and upgrades to the Roanoke Rapids High School auditorium and weight room.

The painting and Chaloner bathroom projects are estimated at $100,000 each, the auditorium renovations at $175,000, and the weight room at $50,000, according to supporting information presented to the board by RRGSD.

As of Tuesday’s meeting, the balance in the district’s repair and renovation fund was $767,010.02, according to the school system's presentation.

Responding to a question from Commissioner Thomas Barrett regarding the future of Chaloner Middle School, Jones said the system is writing a needs-based grant, but is not moving forward with building a new middle school at this time.

The RRGSD last year submitted an application through the state’s Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund for a new middle school, which would have freed up the Chaloner building to house Clara Hearne as well as the ACES alternative education center.

“We have shifted that project and what we’re looking at there, and with conversations with our board, we’re going to make some improvements at Chaloner,” Jones told commissioners. “It was always going to be a school anyway.”

Jones said this afternoon that this year’s needs-based grant application will focus instead on constructing a new gymnasium and classroom building on the RRHS campus.

“This new building would house the RR Early College as well as our Career and Technical Education Center and be in the place of the current Armory building,” he said. “The gymnasium would be constructed on the current softball field site, and we would develop the parcel of land across Jefferson Street that would become the athletic field complex for multiple fields, including baseball and softball.”

Because RRHS lacks an air-conditioned gymnasium, Jones said, “A new facility is greatly needed to hold events both for the school and community.”

The grant application will be submitted to the RRGSD Board of Trustees next week for review, then proceed to county commissioners for approval before going to the state.

Jones also explained that the system has multiple school buildings needing paint, with those projects slated for approval throughout the year.

The bathrooms at Chaloner need comprehensive renovations and upgrades to meet ADA standards, he said.

Jones told commissioners the high school weight room is currently housed in the former RRHS swimming pool. “Everything’s got to be ripped out of that to put new flooring in there.”

That upgrade will feature rubber flooring along with fresh paint and structural lighting improvements.

Renovations at the RRHS auditorium will include a complete overhaul of the rigging system for the stage lights and curtains, which are worn and pose a safety hazard, Jones said.

“Due to the nature of the project and the age of the building, this will be a major project to ensure an updated system while not disturbing the historical beauty of the 105-year-old building.”