Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Construction And Hvac topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves BG‑1, construction manager and testing PO to move geothermal HVAC renovations at six schools forward
Summary
The Madison County Board of Education approved a BG‑1 to begin geothermal well testing across five sites serving six schools, named Branson Construction as construction manager and approved a Bluegrass geothermal purchase order for test drilling and conductivity work; funding will use SFCC‑escrowed capital outlay funds, district officials said.
The Madison County Board of Education voted during its February meeting to advance a phased geothermal and HVAC renovation program for schools with failing rooftop systems, approving initial planning, a construction manager and testing for ground‑source well fields.
Tony Thomas (construction consultant) and district staff described widespread failures of the modular rooftop systems installed about a decade ago and the district’s plan to replace failing units with simpler heat‑pump systems fed by geothermal well fields. Tony Thomas told the board the district intends to bid well fields for five sites as a single package to capture economies of scale, then phase renovation of building HVAC systems so instruction is not disrupted.
The board approved several motions related to the project (motions and seconds are recorded in meeting minutes):
- Approve architectural design services for the HVAC renovation project (sites listed in the agenda). Motion carried (mover and seconder recorded during the meeting).
- Approve Branson Construction as construction manager for the HVAC renovation project for Foley Middle School, Madison Southern High School, Silver Creek Elementary, Daniel Boone Elementary, Kit Carson Elementary and Whitehall Elementary. Motion carried.
- Approve BG‑1 (initial project request) to begin the geothermal project that will allow drilling of well fields that will service the listed schools; board members said the BG‑1 covers five sites servicing six schools and will be bid as one package to encourage large contractors to respond. Motion carried.
- Approve a Bluegrass Geothermal purchase order for test drilling and conductivity testing at the five sites in the amount of $122,500 to evaluate subsurface conditions needed for design. Motion carried.
District finance staff told the board the tests and initial work will be paid from SFCC‑escrowed capital outlay funds that are restricted to construction projects; staff said this portion will not be bonded and will not draw on the district general fund. A staff member said SFCC approval to use escrowed funds was obtained before the vote.
Additional construction approvals covered change orders and punch‑list items on current projects, including small change orders for Madison Middle School and credits that closed out portions of the Bridal CTC Ignite South project (total credit ~$13,888). Board members discussed phasing priorities and emphasized minimizing classroom disruption.
Board members who asked questions noted the district cannot proceed without state approval of facility plan changes; staff said work on the district facility plan amendment is under way to accommodate the renovations. No timeline for full HVAC replacements at each building was given; staff said phasing will prioritize the worst systems and coordinate with principals to limit instructional disruption.
