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Asheville City Schools seeks funding for HVAC, stadium repairs and security vestibules
Summary
Asheville City Schools presented a prioritized list of capital requests including standalone lobby security upgrades, Asheville High stadium concrete repairs, front-steps stabilization, chiller replacements at Claxton Elementary, controls upgrades and asbestos remediation at R.B. Jones; several projects are already underway.
Asheville City Schools staff presented their prioritized capital requests and project updates to the county capital commission, outlining multiple building repairs and security upgrades.
Project manager Ronnie described recent completions and near-term starts, including water and sewer work at Asheville High's main building (student restrooms completed, staff restrooms next) and the Lucy Herring renovation, which the presenter said is on track to finish this summer.
Top requests and cost highlights presented by Ronnie included: - Standalone lobby security vestibule prototype (first standalone project; construction cost roughly $1.5 million; total with soft costs about $1.65 million). - Asheville High stadium concrete resealing and repointing to address water infiltration and safety hazards; staff used a 2021 estimate escalated to 2025 and presented a total project cost near $811,000. - Repair of the main stone steps at Asheville High (initial 2021 estimate escalated to a 2025 total ~ $219,000). - Claxton Elementary chiller and associated pumping/pump-motor replacements; Asheville City Schools has already purchased and is installing one chiller; total request after subtracting that purchase was presented near $... (staff cited $165,000 already spent and a total estimate leading to a remainder reflected in the slides). - NOVAR controls replacement (moving to Tridium open-standard controls) with a project cost presented near $728,000. - Asbestos remediation and lighting/controls work at R.B. Jones; staff noted the schools have already remediated about half the building; remaining request shown near $239,000. - Restroom and concession building at the Asheville Middle athletic track, estimated at about $1.336 million.
Ronnie said the district typically bundles similar work (such as stadium and steps repairs) to use a single contractor and often escalates older 2021 estimates by about 6% per year to reach current planning figures.
Why it matters: Several requests address safety (security vestibules, concrete failures at stadiums and steps) and mechanical systems that districts said are past useful life. Ronnie noted some installations already underway and requested funding to finish projects and begin design for the next cycle.
Ending: The commission accepted the presentation; staff said the district's top-priority lists will be considered alongside county finance scenarios at the next meeting. No vote was taken on funding at this meeting.
