Bath County board approves abatement survey, weighs $7.25K survey and multimillion-dollar BG‑1 renovation estimate

The Bath County Board of Education voted to approve a proposal from AirSource Technology to perform an abatement renovation survey and consultation for Bath County Middle School after reviewing where suspected asbestos "hot spots" were identified.

Speaker 3 summarized the scope and said the survey would cover the original 1938 footprint and the 1970 addition, excluding the 2006 portion, to identify materials such as window mastic, pipe insulation and other adhesives that past surveys may have missed. "The estimate in front of you from the proposal is to include both of the red and the blue zones as a full survey," Speaker 3 said, adding that AirSource would provide sampling, lab testing and reporting but would not perform removal work.

The board was presented two cost contexts from the contractor: a full-specification package the presenter said was listed at $929,250 if AirSource produced complete specifications, and a practical not-to-exceed figure of $7,250 for the narrower survey and report the district intends to commission. Speaker 3 clarified, "the $7,250 proposal is just for AirSource to come in and do a full walk through, take samples for affected areas ... and then just give us a report and specifications to address them." Oversight, if required, was described as an additional $160 per hour and would only be charged when used.

Board members also discussed how testing results would affect the formal renovation BG‑1 submission. Speaker 3 said sample results would arrive in a few days and that confirmed asbestos in windows or plumbing could move items from alternates into the base bid to ensure abatement occurs before other trades work. He presented construction cost scenarios: a base-bid probable cost of about $7.7 million for HVAC, above-ceiling electrical and roof replacement, and a higher base-bid of about $10.8 million if windows and plumbing became required base-bid items. Version A of the BG‑1 was described as a $12.4 million total when including all alternates and placeholders for equipment; version B would add explicit placeholders for equipment and technology.

The board rescinded the older BG‑1 and approved the new BG‑1 version A for Bath County Middle School, and later approved AirSource Technology's proposal for the abatement survey. Speaker 1 recorded the motions and noted the motions carried following votes.

Board members asked procedural and procurement questions about whether AirSource is the only provider; Speaker 3 responded they are not the only option but are familiar with this building and its history. Speaker 3 emphasized that if contractors encounter hazardous materials during work, they are required to stop and removal must be handled by a separate abatement contractor under a subsequent bid.

The board directed next steps toward obtaining buy-in, completing the survey this summer so abatement can be addressed while students are out of the building, and preparing bid-ready documents with anticipated bidding in December and construction beginning in January if approvals proceed.

The board's formal approval of the abatement survey and the new BG‑1 both passed during the meeting. The district will proceed with the survey, receive lab results, and then define final base-bid and alternate scopes for contractor bidding.