By Linda Conner Lambeck

WESTPORT — Despite ongoing, industry-wide shortages of roofing materials, the Board of Education is poised to move forward with a $5 million project to partially replace the Staples High School roof.

The school board got a preliminary presentation on the plan this week and is set to vote on the project at its Sept. 8 meeting.

Officials hope that if the project is granted necessary town approvals over the coming two months, it can be sent to the state for grant approval and put out to bid by early 2022.

Although construction isn’t slated to start until the day after the high school’s graduation next spring, officials anticipate it could take five to six months for the contractor to secure roofing materials including steel, insulation, fasteners and adhesives.

Material shortages contributed to the town recently rebidding the job to partially re-roof Saugatuck Elementary School, which was originally planned for this summer. Instead, Saugatuck will get $1.4 million in roof work next summer.

At Staples, about 200,000 square feet of the roof — all but the new section of the building — will be replaced, according to Charles Warrington. director of project management with Colliers. Along with Paul Jorgensen, an architect with Silver Petrucelli and Associates, Warrington said the construction cost is estimated at $4,978,920.

 That equates to $24.05 a square foot.

“We feel the cost is accurate given conditions,” said Warrington. “The market is volatile.”

According to Warrington, steel prices are up $400 a ton, contractors are uncertain when materials will ship and bidders say they can’t guarantee prices.

Warrington said the grant applications can be ready to go to the state as soon as the project clears the school board, Board of Finance and Representative Town Meeting.

Some 20.7 percent of the project cost — roughly $1 million — could be eligible for reimbursement from the state.

Board member Liz Heyer asked what happens if the project can’t move forward by next summer.

“We will attempt to get it done,” Warrington said.

Efforts will be made to complete the job before classes resume for the next school year, as roofing projects can be loud and disruptive, he added.

The district would have two years from state approval to start work.

Meanwhile, the Saugatuck partial roof replacement is estimated to cost $1,442,000, or $20.22 a square foot. There is anticipation, however, that material cost increases could bump it up closer to the square footage cost at Staples.