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District staff outline $873,785 summer facilities plan; HVAC units nearing end of life
Summary
Staff described this summer's $873,785 slate of roof, HVAC and boiler work, warned many rooftop HVAC units are at end of life, and said a potential Ameresco grant could fund LED conversions covering roughly 90% of cost.
District staff presented a summer facilities plan totaling $873,785 and described multiple building systems that need repair or replacement, including aging rooftop HVAC units and at least one boiler that staff said must be replaced.
The plan, presented after an executive session, covers roofing and “brush work” at multiple schools and targeted repairs at the district high school and middle schools. "We have 28 rooftop units in [the district high school], and those are ... 25 years old," Mister Marlow, a staff member, said. "Last week, we had one breakdown. In lieu of replacing the whole rooftop unit, which is over a hundred thousand dollars just for the unit, we're going to ... put some pieces and parts of it to keep it going. Costs us about 10 to 12,000. But we think it's going to give us just extended length of that rooftop."
Why it matters: staff said many rooftop units are at or near the end of their service life, increasing the risk of more frequent breakdowns and temporary losses of heating or cooling. Marlow said the district's approach includes piecemeal repairs to extend unit life where replacement is not immediately feasible.
Staff noted specific completed or planned work: brush/roof work at Brooks and middle-school band/weight-room areas; roof sections at the high school identified as areas D and E; and two recently installed units at Parkville Elementary. The presenter said some roofing buckets (work areas) are difficult to seal quickly because of access and scheduling.
Funding and grants: staff discussed an Ameresco assessment and said they have developed two- and five-year plans that identify priorities if funding becomes available. Marlow said a potential grant administered with Ameresco would allow conversion of fluorescent lighting to LED, covering roughly 90% of conversion costs if the grant is received. "If we receive that grant, this is going to knock out a lot of those fluorescent lights ... that's going to provide 90% of the cost," he said.
Costs and tradeoffs: the presenter gave examples of repair versus replacement costs. Staff said an HVAC board replacement or parts repair typically costs about $10,000–$12,000, while a full rooftop unit replacement exceeds $100,000. A hot water tank replacement was reported as recently completed when a unit failed. Regarding boilers, staff said the Northfield boiler needs replacement and they are studying a "creative solution" but that it will still require funding.
Staff also described a database-driven asset-management approach meant to prioritize work and track decisions. Marlow said the district currently faces funding limits and that some measures are "not feasible" without additional resources.
What was not decided: no formal motions or votes were recorded in the transcript on these repairs, replacements or grant applications. Several items were described as contingent on grants or future board action.
Looking ahead: staff said they will continue to refine two- and five-year plans and return with cost estimates and funding options when available. They also signaled continuing prioritization decisions based on asset condition and available funds.
