NORTH ATTLEBORO - The leaky Martin School roof moved one step closer to being replaced, with town officials agreeing to submit the project to the Massachusetts School Building Authority in the hopes of getting state reimbursement for part of the cost.

Both the school committee and the board of selectmen have voted in favor of endorsing the submission of the $600,000 project to the state. The endorsement from both boards is required by the Massachusetts School Building Authority before it will consider the project for funding.

However, submission of the project to the state does not guarantee funding. The town already has two projects in the pipeline that have not yet received state approval.

Those projects, the district's two top priorities, are a $2.6 million three-classroom addition to the Early Learning Center and a $3.5 million six-classroom addition to the Allen Avenue School.

The roof at Martin School has been leaking for several years, although the district has done what it can to fix it temporarily. The 33,000-square-foot roof is 18 to 20 years old. A preliminary roof report was submitted by CBI Architects in 2004, which recommended that the roof be replaced. It also recommends repairs to the flashing, masonry and chimney areas.

The school committee will sign all of the final paperwork required by the building authority at its November meeting and the project will be submitted to the state after that date.

AMY DeMELIA can be reached at 508-236-0334 or at ademelia@thesunchronicle.com.