Fixing that roof, and other costly school upgrades, were on the school corporation's back burner until Thursday, when it won a $1.15 million grant to be used for renovation projects.

Spencer-Owen was one of 12 Indiana school corporations sharing $11.4 million in federal grant money, Superintendent of Public Instruction Suellen Reed announced.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for 12 of our neediest schools to receive some necessary help," she said in a statement.

"We're absolutely thrilled," said Spencer-Owen extended services director Randy Roberts, moments after learning of the award. "At a time when funding for schools is short and may run shorter, this kind of money is wonderful for us."

Beside replacing roofs on Patricksburg and Spencer elementary schools, Roberts said the grant would also fund heating and air-conditioning renovation at the Owen Valley Middle School and Spencer Elementary.

"We planned to do these projects over a five-year period using our capital projects fund," he said, "but this grant enables us to do them now, and we're happy."