HOOVER – The Hoover City Schools Board of Education spending $81,340 for emergency repairs to the non-competition gymnasium at Spain Park High School at its meeting on Monday, Aug. 14.

“Yes, we have a mess,” Superintendent Kathy Murphy said. “We have a gymnasium floor that we have yet to really understand what has happened.”

The concrete slab under the floor has risen about 5.5 inches at one point, Murphy said.

Though water or other factors were assumed as culprits, a hole bored into the slab and underlying soil and rock was inconclusive.

The lowest quotes HCS received for the work was $32,000 for concrete services and about $49,000 to readdress the flooring, Murphy said.

“It is a need,” she said. “It is my request to you that we address it immediately. It’s kind of hard to play on a court that’s heaving upward.”

The concrete slab was poured in 2001, officials said.

In other business, the council:

-Heard from Cindy Warner with the Alabama School Public Relations Association that Jason Gaston, HCS coordinator of media/public relations, was honored with the organization’s Nez Calhoun Distinguished Service Award.

Gaston previously served as president of the ALSPRA executive board and currently serves as Southeast regional vice president of the National School Public Relations Association.

Warner read a message from Calhoun, the award’s namesake: “I am humbled that my name is on this public relations award, and I am proud that this year, your Jason Gaston is the standard bearer for it.”

-Heard from a representative of the Hoover City Schools Foundation that the organization is up to 20 board members and has significantly increased revenue over the past two years. The foundation is holding its second annual “Commit to 36” fundraiser and also will sponsor a forum on Oct. 26 at Hyatt Regency Birmingham – The Wynfrey Hotel for state legislative candidates.

-Approved personnel actions, including 71 hires, eight transfers, 10 leaves of absence, 35 resignations, and five approvals for bus insurance.

-Approved business actions including a monthly financial statement for June, cash disbursement of $4.2 million in June and a payroll of $7.3 million in July. The district has collected 87 percent of its revenue for the fiscal year, has generated $5.1 million more in revenue compared to this time last year and has spent about $167,000 less compared to the same time last year.

-Moved the board meeting scheduled for Sept. 12 to Sept. 11 at 5:30 p.m.

-Approved budget preparation hearing dates of 6 p.m. on Aug. 29 and 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 11.

-Heard from Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Ron Dodson that the district’s enrollment of 13,828 was within 0.2 percent of projections. “We’re a little bit ahead of schedule in terms of enrollment for the school year,” Dodson said and added that after three years of relatively flat enrollment, officials anticipate about 139 new students this academic year from new home construction in the city.