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Board approves middle‑school backup generator and orders new bus as facilities problems prompt maintenance updates
Summary
The board awarded a $34,925 generator contract and approved purchase of a replacement school bus; staff updated the board on HVAC failures, snow removal and fleet condition.
The Mission Public Schools Board of Education approved a $34,925 bid for a backup generator at the middle school and authorized purchase of a new district bus after extended discussion about facilities, HVAC failures and fleet needs.
Tim (facilities/maintenance) presented three bids for a middle‑school backup generator and recommended the lowest responsive bidder; the board accepted the recommendation and awarded the contract to IEO Electric LLC for $34,925. The board vote was recorded as unanimous.
Transportation coordinator Jim Ferris and facilities staff told the board the district’s 12‑vehicle bus fleet ranges widely in age. Ferris said typical daily operations use seven buses, 9 on busier days, and that wear is driven by long rural routes. The board approved purchase of a new bus to replenish the fleet; the motion authorized a purchase price of $142,459 and the motion carried unanimously.
Staff briefed the board on multiple HVAC problems at district buildings. Tim said several rooftop BRU/Daikin units suffered compressor and circuit‑board failures after recent storms and power fluctuations; repairs have required replacement compressors and some circuit‑board parts, and parts lead times have ranged from days to a couple of weeks. Staff described interim workarounds—running single compressors in split units, localized space heaters, and temporary rearrangement of electric loads—and said they are exploring routine preventative‑maintenance contracts that include semiannual inspections and discounted parts.
Board members asked whether preventive maintenance would prevent repeated compressor failures and whether replacement or retrofits should be considered; staff said the root causes are not fully determined and that contractors are checking warranty coverage and failure histories. The board instructed staff to seek more detail on maintenance programs and warranty options before committing to large replacements.
On snow removal and grounds, staff reported coordination with the City of Hiawatha to stage snow at a city site and that crews would prioritize elementary sidewalks and campus access while a rented dump trailer and truck operate over several days.
Why it matters: the generator purchase aims to keep the middle school operational during outages; bus replacement maintains route capacity and avoids over-reliance on older vehicles. HVAC failures are producing classroom-temperature variability and recurring maintenance expense that may affect future capital and maintenance budgeting.
What was approved (summary): the board unanimously approved the IEO Electric LLC generator bid ($34,925) and the bus purchase authorization ($142,459). Staff were directed to return with details on preventive‑maintenance contracts, warranty coverage and long‑term fleet-replacement planning.
