The Selma City Board of Education will vote on a change order for the roof repair of C.H.A.T. Academy’s auxiliary building Thursday.

The change order calls for a 63-by-68 foot section of the roof to be replaced instead of the original 25-by-25 foot section. There is a $95,000 difference in cost.

The auxiliary building caught fire about a year and a half ago. Frasier-Ousley Construction and Engineering won the original bid for $17,028. After construction began, an architect and engineer employed by the board recommended the change after they noticed rust on the corrugated tin.

Ray Mathiews, Selma City Schools coordinator of auxiliary services, said exposure to weather and water from the fire hoses caused the tin to rust. Four to six inches of lightweight, concrete insulation sits on top of the tin. He said students’ safety is the first concern.

“There’s concern now that they’ve seen rust on this bottom side,” Mathiews said. “We certainly don’t want a roof failure.”

The new cost is $112,367. The project will not be bid out again.

Mathiews proposed the change order to the board Monday night.

He said change orders are common when working with older buildings. The contractor has no way of knowing what problems might lie within the building.

New heating, ventilating and air conditioning units will also be installed in the building. The gymnasium, which is part of the building, will also receive a new floor.

“This is going to be a building we’re very proud of in the district,” Mathiews said.

Board member Sylvia Smith said the safety of the children outweighs the cost.

C.H.A.T. Academy Principal Bertram Pickney said he is happy to see the construction progress.

“We’re just excited about getting that building back,” he said.