JACKSON – Some projects will have to wait.

After agreeing on a revised version of the 2004-2005 capital outlay plan, members of the Northampton County Board of Education made a move, during their last board meeting, to place some of the construction projects originally planned for 2004-2005 on back burner to accommodate other tasks.

The items taking priority are the installation of air conditioning for the gymnasium at Northampton County High School-West, reconditioning of the tennis courts at Northampton County High School-East and reinstitution of funding for paving improvements at Creecy Elementary School.

Among the tasks placed on hold is the construction of acoustical panels for sound control in the gym at Creecy Elementary, replacement/repair of the doors and all hardware to the gym at NCHS-East, upgrade on facilities and equipment for band and athletic programs at both Gaston Middle School and NCHS-West, a new sign for Garysburg Elementary, bathroom renovation at Squire Elementary and providing hot water to the bathroom nearest the cafeteria at Willis Hare Elementary.

Money for maintenance on the two School Resource Officer cars purchased last year is also likely to be omitted.

&uot;When we do the 2005-2006 capital outlay, those projects will be considered for reentry into the capital outlay budget,&uot; said Northampton County Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Phil Matthews.

Matthews added that it would be very likely that the projects at Squire Elementary and NCHS-East would be in the 2005-2006 capital outlay budget due to the pressing nature of the endeavors.

The estimated cost for installing air conditioning in the gymnasium at Northampton County High School-West is $90,000, while reconditioning of the tennis courts at Northampton County High School-East is estimated at $30,546. Paving improvements at Creecy Elementary School are projected at $51,565.

Using funds from the 2004-2005 capital outlay budget, Northampton County Schools have placed an order for $4,409.43 in band equipment for Conway Middle School, painted the band room at NCHS-East and purchased new carpet for its facilities.

It has also replaced the old wooden doors with new ones, replaced the locks and hardware at the entrance of the fourth and fifth grade building and replaced floor tiles at Squire Elementary, completed construction for hot water access in the bathroom nearest the cafeteria at Garysburg Elementary, replaced floor tiles at Willis Hare, replaced boilers in both the main building and the small classroom building in the Central Office at Creecy along with the blinds in the cafeteria, replaced incandescent lighting with fluorescent or halide in needed areas in various classrooms, the cafeteria and auditorium, upgraded the telephone and intercom system and performed other campus improvements including paving the area of faculty parking.

General maintenance like painting, tending to gutters and drainage, tree removal and the screening and resealing of gym floors were also included in the 2004-2005 capital outlay budget.

Completion of 2004-2005 capital projects placed on hold will be discussed at a later date.