The Brookhaven School District board of trustees voted Tuesday night to commit more than $2.8 million of unreserved funds toward specific projects, including roof replacement across the district.

     The move takes the district’s fund balance down from $6,515,593 to $3,700,593.

     Director of Finance Susan Quin originally recommended the board restrict approximately $1.3 million. However, Tuesday night the board received a report by the Bailey Education Group on the district’s infrastructure that highlighted the need for new roofs on certain buildings at every school site.

     “We are past the point of repair,” said board president Carl Aycock.

     Gary Bailey, of the Bailey Education Group, told the board he recommends the repairs be paid for out of reserve funds.

     After some discussion, the board amended Quin’s request to restrict general funds by further allocating $1.5 million for roof replacement.

     The board also voted to begin advertising for bids on the roof replacement. Details are currently unavailable as to which buildings will receive new roofs.

     A proposal by Gov. Phil Bryant that school districts use reserve funds to replace some state funding during the 2012-13 school year was of concern for board members and administrators during the discussion.

     Specifically, board members voiced fears that district reserve funds may be distributed throughout the state, though no such proposal has been put forth by Bryant or in the Legislature at this time.

     However, board members cited a desire to ensure reserve funds remain in the district as a motivation for earmarking funds for roof repair.

     “I sure don’t want to put a roof on a Lawrence County building,” board member Karen Braden said, suggesting the board move to protect its funds.

     Superintendent Dr. Lisa Karmacharya supported the action.

     “They have some powerful people making decisions very quickly,” Karmacharya said of state government.

     Quin repeated what she and other area school administrators have previously said with respect to the use of fund balances.

     “These are funds we have worked hard to set aside for infrastructure and the education of our children,” Quin said.

     Quin’s original request included $420,000 to pay for construction of a new baseball field house, $200,000 for new reading textbooks for the kindergarten through the sixth grade and U.S. history textbooks and $100,000 for a digital media technology program at the Technical Center.

     The amount earmarked for the field house includes architect’s fees and the contractor’s fees.

     Smith Painting and Contracting’s bid of $390,800 was accepted as the low bid by the board Tuesday night. There were five competing bids, all $400,000 or more.

     Bids came in higher than anticipated. Bailey, also the field house architect, told the board in December the project could cost approximately $360,000.

     However, Bailey told the board Tuesday night everything seems to be in order with the bids.

     “They were all right in there together, which indicates they were fair bids,” Bailey said.

     Construction on the new field house will begin in May after baseball season ends.

     “It will be a quality building and last you a long time,” Bailey told the board.

     Karmacharya also distributed to board members a new policy on cellphone use she would like the board to consider and then approve at its next meeting.

     The current policy prohibits student use and possession of a cellphone on school grounds. The new policy would only prohibit the use of cellphones, allowing their possession.

     “A significant amount of children continue to have cellphones in their possession,” Karmacharya said. “This seems like a good compromise knowing where we are headed with technology use.”

     The board also honored Aycock for 15 years of membership on the board. Tuesday night was his last board meeting. An election will be held Saturday for Aycock’s seat. He is ineligible to seek re-election due to a change in residency.

     “The district is in my heart,” Aycock said.

     Braden will replace Aycock as board president.