School board authorizes up to $3 million expansion of HVAC work at four Berkeley County schools

The Berkeley County Schools Board of Education on Jan. 21 authorized an expansion of its contract with CMTA to allow up to $3,000,000 for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) upgrades at multiple county schools, the board said at its regular meeting.

Superintendent Sacks recommended the board prioritize air conditioning for the two middle-school main gyms at Musselman Middle and Hedgesville Middle, add Hedgesville High School’s auxiliary gym (including the mezzanine and two adjacent locker rooms), and complete HVAC work for 10 classrooms at Martinsburg High School that currently rely on portable units. "Because we're asking to expand the contract, they'll do the bidding," Sacks said during discussion, explaining that authorizing the amount would allow the district to order equipment and bid work to get most work done over the summer.

Why it matters: Board members said the projects address both student/staff comfort and safety. The two middle-school gyms lack full air conditioning, creating crowded, hot spaces where gym doors are left open — a security and air-quality concern, the superintendent said. Martinsburg High has…