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Parent raises cold‑classroom complaint as board approves parking‑lot and construction final acceptances
Summary
A parent reported very cold classrooms at Horizon Elementary; the board approved several capital project acceptances and discussed bond scopes, contingency, and how sites are prioritized for repairs.
A parent’s online comment about frigid classrooms at Horizon Elementary drew attention at Tuesday’s Kent School District meeting as the board moved through several capital project acceptances.
Todd Miner told the board his children attend Horizon and that two classrooms were “super, super cold” during parent‑teacher conferences, describing rooms so chilly he had to wear a hooded sweatshirt. Miner said the district’s HVAC makeup-air dampers — left open for COVID‑era ventilation — were introducing very cold outside air and urged the district to address heating without deferring fixes solely to a levy. “This is a very old building and a very, very inefficient heating system,” he said in remarks submitted as a three‑minute video.
The board then considered and approved multiple consent items including final acceptances for central storage and athletic building projects and a final acceptance for Kentwood High School parking‑lot repairs (project 9.03). Director Song raised equity questions about how parking‑lot projects are prioritized; facilities staff explained scope is generally set in bond/levy proposals and that contingency funds cover cost overruns. Mr. Buscher and the facilities team said projects listed on a bond are ‘promises made, promises kept’ but that the board has limited flexibility to repurpose bond dollars once promised; unexpected damage or emergencies can change prioritization in limited cases.
In another facilities action, the board approved a change order for network cabling capacity improvements (Phase 1, change order #1). Staff described funding as a mix of tech levy dollars and federal E‑Rate funds (which can cover up to 80% of eligible costs); phone‑line cabling additions will be paid from the tech levy.
Board members asked staff to follow up on Miner’s heating complaint and to report on potential fixes and funding options; staff earlier said districts have considered technical fixes such as heating makeup air or adjusting ventilation strategies based on weather and regulatory constraints.
