School board adopts revised LTFM plan and approves $919,250 chiller contract after higher bids

The Winona Area Public School District board on Feb. 19 approved a revision to its 10‑year Long Term Facilities Maintenance (LTFM) plan and awarded a contract to replace the Winona Senior High School chiller.

The revision updates the estimated cost for the chiller replacement from $421,500 to a planning figure of $1,100,000 and was adopted by resolution after the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) requested a revised cost estimate. The board then voted to award a construction contract to Winona Heat & Vent, Inc., for $919,250 to supply the chiller and accept three alternates (a D‑superheater, glycol for the chilled‑water loop and glycol for the hot‑water loop).

Why it matters: MDE requires school districts to keep their LTFM 10‑year plans current when project costs change. Because the chiller project exceeds $100,000 at a single site and affects the district’s health‑and‑safety levy authority, updating the plan establishes the levy mechanism to finance the work without voter approval.

Board discussion and funding mechanics Board members pressed staff about the jump in estimated cost and the effect on property taxpayers. Director Sarah Slavi, who led the presentation, said the earlier $421,500 figure was based on an older quote and that more recent bids and contractor estimates drove the higher planning number the department requested.

“The way the money will flow is the difference between the…