District to seek board approval June 17 for $3 million facilities upgrades; pool dehumidifier and HVAC among priorities

Consultants from ICS presented the districts capital projects bidding results on June 3 and recommended that the board consider awards for a set of projects totaling about $3,000,000. The administration and ICS identified immediate priorities as HVAC upgrades and replacements (including chiller plants at Murray Avenue and the middle school, rooftop heating and cooling units at Pine Road Elementary), improvements to building automation controls, fire alarm work, and a dehumidification/humidification solution for the high school pool.

An ICS representative summarized the process that led to the bid recommendations, saying the team visited buildings, developed a prioritized list of needs and scoped bid packages intended to address items in a "warm, safe, dry" category that affect student health and building operations. The consultant reported that the recommended bid packages came in under the initial budget estimate for the bidding portion by about $76,000 and that a refurbished alternate for a cooling tower sump would save roughly $60,000.

The consultant noted allowances included in the bid packages for deficiencies discovered during controls work and said an added set of three‑year warranties and inclusion of variable air volume (VAV) boxes in one package were included as value items. Contractors named in the presentation included Hirschberg (low bidder on two packages), Johnson Controls (building controls) and Keystone Fire and Security (fire/booster work where previously used). ICS said some fire alarm work across three schools had already been addressed and one remaining alarm would be implemented by in‑house maintenance.

Board members asked about on‑the‑ground impacts for students and staff. The consultant said most improvements are "behind the scenes" but cited the pool dehumidification/humidifier as one of the most immediately noticeable improvements; improved controls and VAV boxes should raise comfort and consistency across classrooms. The consultant also emphasized that work would be coordinated to avoid closing school days and that much implementation would be scheduled during calendar breaks or next summer. A milestone schedule discussed in the presentation indicated contracting and procurement lead times would push substantial on‑site work into late summer and beyond; the presentation referenced a targeted finish date in October 2026, subject to procurement lead times and scheduling around school calendars.

If there were no objections, administrators said they would move the bid recommendations and supporting documents forward for approval at the June 17 board meeting. No formal awards were made at the June 3 meeting; the board directed the items to the June 17 consent/approval agenda for final action.