The Dickson County School Board on Feb. 7 voted to accept the low bid from Dixie Roofing for the Stuart Burns Elementary roof replacement but made the award contingent on the county commission approving use of reserve funds.

District staff presented a bid tab showing Dixie Roofing as the low bidder at $1,435,935. Staff noted the contract contains a $5-per-linear-foot allowance for wood nailers if damaged decking is discovered when the old roof is removed; that allowance had been included in the project's contingency. A board member raised that Dixie Roofing had initially omitted a criminal background check form from its bid packet; staff said that omission was treated as a technicality and the missing document was provided within an hour and accepted as complete after review.

Board discussion touched on the district's prequalification process for bidders and why the district uses a request-for-qualifications process to limit bids to firms judged qualified to perform the work. The administration recommended awarding to the low, prequalified bidder. A motion to approve the award was made with the added condition that the county commission approve use of reserves; the motion carried. The transcript shows the board debated whether available project funds would be sufficient and noted design fees and other contingencies would reduce the district's remaining balance in the referenced fund.

Staff said the district had approximately $1,276,006.76 remaining in the referenced fund (the "177" account) at the time of the meeting; staff also flagged that other contingent expenses and design fees may consume a portion of that balance. The board did not authorize spending beyond the contingency condition tied to county commission approval.