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Tangipahoa Parish staff report most school gym HVAC units running; several sites await utility hookups and punch-list work
Summary
Facilities staff reported multiple gym HVAC projects are operational or near substantial completion, while others await utility hookups (Entergy) or minor punch-list work. Board members discussed thermostat controls, temporary impacts to athletics and maintenance plans for the larger units.
Darren, a facilities staff member, told the Tangipahoa Parish Capital Outlay Committee of the Whole that several school gym HVAC projects are either up and running or in final closeout work, while a handful remain pending external hookups.
“We actually just turned on the ACs last week,” Darren said, describing the district’s progress at multiple campuses and noting teams preparing for substantial completion and closeouts.
Committee members said the district has started units at Ponchatoula High and Greenville Park, obtained fire marshal approval at the Midway site, and is preparing start-up at Independence Leadership Academy and other campuses. Several sites — the Parent Early Learning Center, Jam Cooper, Spring Creek and others — are waiting on utility company hookups; Darren said utility lead time is roughly two weeks in many cases.
The committee discussed how the new gym systems will be controlled. Members said the district currently operates central controls at the central office and has installed local override buttons at some schools (for example, a four-hour override the principal can trigger). Board members urged synchronized control points and limits so classrooms and gyms are not left too cold or allowed extreme temperature swings. Staff said temperature set-point limits have been set at several recently inspected sites to prevent units from being turned down excessively.
Board member Mr. Toler raised concerns about athletic teams displaced by construction. “If we have to relocate these teams, we should be having to pay the bill for them having to find somewhere else to go play,” he said, noting some youth and school programs may not have funds to rent off-site facilities. Committee members discussed scheduling coordination with contractors to avoid conflicts where possible and agreed to keep principals and coaches informed before any relocations.
Committee members also asked about long-term maintenance. Staff said warranties and workmanship periods will apply once projects reach substantial completion and that larger units will likely require different maintenance arrangements than the district’s smaller classroom units; staff said they will confirm warranty lengths and whether new contracts are needed.
Next steps cited by staff include following up with Entergy for utility hookups, completing site-specific punch lists, and scheduling remaining start-ups. Darren said he will continue to provide status updates to the committee as hookups and inspections are completed.
