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Franklin SSD board approves $4.59M HVAC replacement, $108K roof repairs and $209K kitchen equipment purchase
Summary
At its October meeting, the Franklin Special School District board approved a $4,591,052.28 piggyback contract for HVAC replacements at Freedom Intermediate, a $108,000 roof drainage repair at Moore Elementary and a $209,328 kitchen-equipment purchase funded by an FDA grant; the board also approved its annual TISA accountability report.
At its October meeting the Franklin Special School District board voted to approve three facility- and equipment-related contracts and the district's annual TISA accountability report.
The board approved a piggyback contract for replacement of air-conditioning units at Freedom Intermediate School using the Sumner County School District contract (No. 20240924) with Mechanical Resource Group (MRG). The district staff presented a turnkey project price of $4,591,052.28 and said the work is bond-funded. Dr. J. Snowden, director of schools, introduced the item and said the district recommends approval. An MRG representative said ordering would begin immediately because lead times are significant and that work that affects classrooms would be scheduled for next summer. Two MRG representatives, John Bridal and James Lynch, were present for questions.
Board members approved the MRG contract by roll call: Mister Townsville (yes), Miss Barker (yes), Mister Blair (yes), Miss Bell (yes), Miss Newman (yes) and Mister Stillings (yes). The motion passed.
The board also awarded a $108,000 contract for roof drainage repairs at Moore Elementary to Thrash Construction Services LLC based on a recommendation from the project architect Wold. Dr. Snowden said the work responds to repeated flooding incidents in the school's main lobby and music room and recommended approval. Jonathan Polk of Thrash attended the meeting. During discussion, board members noted Thrash previously completed the district's cooler-and-freezer replacement work and asked about the timetable; Thrash projected a 60-day completion period once the contract is executed. The board approved the award by roll call (votes recorded as in the minutes).
Separately, the board approved a first equipment purchase under a U.S. Department of Agriculture (FDA) research grant (referred to in meeting materials as the FDA grant). The board awarded a bid to Mobile Fixture for various kitchen equipment totaling $209,328. Dr. Snowden said the total FDA grant award is $1,750,000 and the district set aside $780,000 of the grant for equipment; future purchases under the grant will be numbered sequentially in the minutes. Dr. Snowden said district staff member Mrs. Cross wrote the grant application; the district is one of two in Tennessee that received the award. The board approved the Mobile Fixture purchase by roll call.
The district also approved the 2025-26 Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) accountability report, a required annual submission to the Tennessee Department of Education, by roll call vote.
The package of approvals reflects a mix of bond-funded capital maintenance and grant-funded equipment purchases. District staff said the AC replacements will be procured via an allowable piggyback on Sumner County's contract and that scheduling aims to minimize classroom disruption. The roofing work is intended to stop recurring interior flooding at Moore Elementary. The FDA grant equipment purchases are part of a larger, multi-year grant-funded upgrade to school kitchens.
Other items discussed later in the meeting included updates on website refresh, remote-learning drill planning and the district's upcoming open houses; sales tax collections were reported up 7% month-to-month.
Votes at a glance
- Freedom Intermediate air-conditioning replacement: piggyback contract via Sumner County contract No. 20240924 with Mechanical Resource Group. Turnkey price: $4,591,052.28. Funding: bond funds. Outcome: approved (roll-call votes recorded in minutes).
- Moore Elementary roof drainage repair: contract awarded to Thrash Construction Services LLC. Price: $108,000. Estimated timetable: 60 days. Outcome: approved (roll-call votes recorded in minutes).
- FDA grant equipment purchase (first bid): bid award to Mobile Fixture for kitchen equipment. Amount: $209,328. Total FDA grant: $1,750,000; equipment budget: $780,000. Outcome: approved (roll-call votes recorded in minutes).
- TISA 2025-26 accountability report: recommended and approved. Outcome: approved (roll-call votes recorded in minutes).
