OXFORD – After leaking for at least a year, the Oxford Middle School gymnasium will finally get a new roof. The work, however, will not begin until spring.

The district’s board of education met in special session last night to accept a bid for a full tear-off and replacement of the roof submitted by J & B Installations, Inc. of Skaneateles Falls. The contractor’s bid of $112,500 exceeds the amount approved by voters in May, but was nearly $4,000 lower than the next lowest bid.

Board member Gene Rood was absent from the meeting at the time of the vote, but expressed his support of the board’s decision upon his arrival.

Although bids for the full tear-off were opened more than a month ago, the school board held off awarding the contract while sending out a request for proposal for a partial tear-off.

Since none of the original bids received were for fall or winter construction, Superintendent Randy Squier had assured the school board that sending out for the additional bids would not delay the project further.

Squier said he was not impressed by bids received in the second round.

“None would guarantee beyond a five-year warrantee,” he told the board. Bids for the full tear-off included a 20-year manufacturer’s warrantee. The school board had been looking for something in the 10 to 15 year range for the partial.

“It would be my recommendation to go back to the full tear-off,” said Squier.

After some discussion, the board voted unanimously to reject the partial tear-off bids. They did still have questions about the roof work, particularly about the project timeline and the district’s financial position as related to the expense of the project.

According to J & B’s bid, work would begin on or about April 10, barring inclement weather. Several board members expressed concerns about the work being undertaken while school is in session.