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Board tables vote on temporary HVAC rentals for Hammond High gym; seeks more cost and timeline details
Summary
The board postponed a decision on a proposed six-month rental of temporary HVAC units for Hammond High's gym, instructing administration to return in two weeks with additional cost and timeline information. The board had separately approved a permanent HVAC contract earlier in the meeting.
Tangipahoa Parish School Board members on April 1 tabled a proposal to rent temporary HVAC units for Hammond High School's gymnasium, asking administration for additional cost, mobilization and installation details and a clearer timeline for other school HVAC projects.
The rental quote presented to the board was $8,002.60 per month for an estimated six months (projected total $48,012) from Mobile Air and Power Rentals. Administrators warned that, beyond the rental fee, powering the units could require either a utility connection at an additional estimated $20,000 to $30,000 or a rented generator and recurring fuel costs; exact generator costs were not provided.
The board had earlier approved a permanent HVAC low bid for Hammond High for $956,731, pending court approval, with administration noting that installation is expected to take about 200 days (roughly 6—d months). Board members debated whether to rent temporary units for the summer and early fall to cool gym events such as volleyball matches while the permanent system is installed.
Mister Duncan said he supported temporary cooling for community events in August but wanted a narrower scope: he suggested turning the units on only for games and not running them continuously through the summer. Mister Piazza noted similar cooling needs across other gymnasiums and warned that approving temporary units for one school might prompt similar requests from other schools.
After discussion the board voted to table the rental approval for two weeks so administration could provide additional information on mobilization charges, generator options, the timeline for permanent HVAC installations at other schools, and whether rentals could be shared among campuses. The tabling motion, moved by Mister Anthony and seconded by Mister Westmoreland, passed; Mister Duncan and Miss Richards voted no.
Why it matters: the decision balances short-term comfort for students, staff and event attendees against the expense of temporary solutions and fairness across multiple schools awaiting permanent HVAC upgrades.
