School officials cite multi‑million dollar HVAC and roofing backlog; board asked to prioritize $2 million in near‑term projects

Cabell County Schools staff told the school board at a facilities workshop that the district faces large, rising costs to replace aging heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and roofs across multiple schools and that trustees should identify near‑term priorities so staff can prepare a May budget recommendation.

District staff presented line‑item estimates and vendor reports showing that HVAC replacement costs have grown substantially since the last CEFP (Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan) figures were prepared. Staff cited an updated estimate of roughly $27 million to replace Huntington High School’s HVAC system and said five large HVAC projects on the list would total nearly $90 million in today’s dollars. Roof‑replacement estimates for priority sections included a $1.7 million figure for one central roof section at Huntington High. Staff said those numbers reflect updated vendor bids, inflation in materials and added testing/commissioning requirements when federal funds are blended with other sources.

The presentation noted that the district’s existing maintenance and technology staff reduce costs by performing repairs in‑house where feasible, but they cannot cover major capital replacements. Staff recommended a two‑tier approach: set aside a defined near‑term pot to address urgent, smaller repairs and safety items this summer, and plan multi‑year funding strategies for large replacements. Board members discussed setting aside about $2,000,000 as an initial allocation for the highest‑priority projects and then working down the ranked list.

Staff also outlined options to reduce net roofing costs, including a vendor model that installs a 25‑year membrane and mounts solar panels owned and maintained by the vendor; the vendor would warrant the membrane and remove and reinstall panels if repairs are required. Staff said they will meet a vendor next week to evaluate whether that model can be used on district buildings and whether ballast/gravel roofs can be treated the same way.

Board members and staff discussed the district’s procurement and grant constraints. Staff reminded trustees that School Building Authority (SBA) or other grant projects trigger additional testing, balancing and procurement steps, which raise total project costs. Trustees repeatedly said they preferred phasing large projects rather than committing the district to a single multi‑year expenditure.

Staff identified next steps: refine dollar estimates for high‑priority HVAC and roof segments, provide a prioritized list to the superintendent’s budget officer for incorporation into the May budget, and return to the board with more exact replacement timeframes where vendors can provide them. Staff noted that some urgent repairs will still be addressed immediately as leaks or failures occur, even if full replacements are deferred.

The workshop closed with general agreement to finalize near‑term priorities quickly so the budget can be prepared in May.