Edina Public Schools details $25 million high-school mechanical upgrade and districtwide summer projects

Mert Woodard, director of finance and operations for Edina Public Schools, told the school board on Aug. 11 that the district managed more than 16 construction projects over the summer, the largest being a multi-year mechanical upgrade at Edina High School with an approximate cost of $25,000,000 funded entirely from the districts Long Term Facilities Maintenance program.

Woodard said the high-school work is a three-year mechanical replacement that switches heating systems from very hot steam to a warm-water system and replaces aging air-handling units. The bid package was structured to allow renovation of interior spaces affected by the mechanical work, including flooring, ceilings and the Fick Auditorium, where nearly every nonseat component is being replaced.

"Almost every part of Fick Auditorium is being renovated. Everything except for the seating," Woodard said, adding that seating likely will be addressed in five to 10 years. He described scaffold work that creates closer access to lighting and sound infrastructure so those systems can be replaced.

The presentation covered other district projects: restroom renovations and locker-room work at the high school, gym floor restriping with a new Hornet logo, a rehabilitation and reconfiguration of courts at the Edina Community Center (a project quoted at about $1,300,000), repair and limited replacement of artificial turf at Normandale Elementary that Woodard said will extend the turfs usable life by roughly three years, tuckpointing and restroom replacements at Cornelia Elementary (built in 1959), a loading-dock repair at Creek Valley Elementary, resurfacing at Southview parking lot, miscellaneous ADA and restroom work at Valley View, a small outdoor learning enhancement at Concord paid for in part by the schools PTO, and conduit and charger-panel work at the district transportation center to prepare for two electric buses acquired with grant funding.

Woodard noted the transportation center electrical work was roughly 50% complete and that the electric buses themselves were likely to arrive in December or January, with a ribbon-cutting expected around the holidays. He also confirmed the tennis-court repaving at the community center will not be ready for the upcoming season but is planned for 2026.

Board members asked about schedule and supply-chain risks. Director Berry asked whether "on plan" meant on time; Woodard replied, "As far as I know. Absolutely." When asked whether inflation or tariffs were affecting projects, Woodard said he had not seen widespread impacts for this summer and suggested the effect of inflation will be clearer in bids for fall and winter work.

Woodard repeatedly framed the summer work as part of the long-term facilities maintenance plan the board approved in June 2024 and credited the billings and grounds staff for extensive summer hours to complete the work.

The board did not take any vote on the construction update during the public session; it was presented for information and future committee discussion on stormwater retention at the community center was scheduled for the next finance and facilities committee meeting.

Woodard asked board members to pass along gratitude to the facilities staff for their work over the summer.