The Lewis Central Community School District Board of Directors on June 30 approved a $57,200 contract with Morrissey Engineering to design mechanical upgrades at Lewis Central High School and prepare bid documents for the work.

Board approval followed a presentation from district facilities staff that said the design contract covers replacement of rooftop units and individual controls primarily in the athletic wing, including locker rooms and the wrestling room. Jim, a district staff member who presented the item, said, "They want the design done because they don't want this work to be done next summer, so we gotta get it designed so we can get it out to bid." The board approved the agreement by roll-call vote.

The design phase will produce the engineering drawings and bid documents the district needs to solicit construction bids. According to staff, the scope focuses on rooftop heating, ventilation and air conditioning units in the athletic end of the building and upgrades to controls in each air-handling unit. The district will issue the construction bid after design is complete and select a contractor through the public bidding process.

Board members asked about timing and scope during discussion. Staff said the design contract is limited to the design and bid administration; subsequent construction contracts would be brought back to the board for approval. The motion to approve the Morrissey Engineering agreement passed on a unanimous roll-call vote.

The item was listed on the board's agenda as 4.01 and later carried as action item 6.01.