Thursday's Internet Edition, March 11, 2010.

That’s what a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers inspector told school officials after an inspection Feb. 3.

“Recent high water and flood events have resulted in immediate endangerment to this critically essential public facility,” a letter from geotechnical engineer Todd Griffith said.

Problems with erosion from the Pocatalico River are within 30 feet of the building and will require extensive work estimated to cost $625,000, the letter said.

Roane Superintendent of Schools Steve Goffreda shared the bad news with board of education members at their meeting Thursday.

Goffreda said the Army Corps is proposing to pay 65 percent of the cost of the work, with the school board paying the other 35 percent, or more than $200,000.

The only problem is, the school board doesn’t have that kind of money to spare.

Goffreda said the work would involve moving about 12,000 cubic yards of dirt and 8,000 tons of rock.

Board members suggested that state and local lawmakers might help find some money to pay the local share of the project.

The board did receive good news about another project.

Spencer officials have been asking that a grease trap be installed at Spencer Middle School to help alleviate problems at the city sewage treatment plant.

School officials delayed any action after preliminary estimates put the cost of the project at around $100,000.

That was no longer an option after the county sanitarian said recently the school cafeteria could not reopen next fall unless the grease trap was replaced.

At Tuesday’s meeting, board members approved a bid of $30,000 from Hall’s Excavating to install a grease trap at the school.

Officials said the project should be complete before the next school year.