Board deems Latonia Elementary gym roof collapse an emergency, moves toward contract execution

The Covington Board of Education voted to deem the collapsed gym roof at Latonia Elementary an emergency project and directed staff to proceed with contracting and reconstruction steps.

Board members moved and seconded a motion to designate the Latonia gym roof collapse as an emergency. Trustees said the designation will allow the district to expedite repairs; one board member noted that insurance will cover the project almost entirely. "It's, 99.9% — that's the percentage I heard Mr. Neff last time — funded through the insurance claim," a member said, urging prompt action so the Latonia community won’t be without a gym for an extended period.

Staff stated they are preparing an execution request with HGC Construction and will present the formal contract at the next board meeting for approval. A board member praised district staff for lining up the contractor and noted the urgency of restoring the facility for physical education and community events.

The board approved the emergency declaration by roll call and asked staff to notify the Latonia community of the timeline and next steps. The district intends to rely primarily on insurance proceeds for the rebuild; staff said the district’s financial risk is minimal.

The board also approved a separate procedural motion to bring the HGC contract forward for approval at the next meeting, and members thanked staff for coordinating the response.