Spencer Brakemeyer, a presenter at the Nov. 11 school board meeting, told trustees the district’s highest near-term HVAC priority is six VRF systems at the elementary school and that a phased retrofit is feasible.

Brakemeyer said the team evaluated unit ventilators, water-source heat pumps, rooftop units and replacing like-for-like VRF equipment, but ultimately recommended commercial mini-splits for a retrofit. “What we’re ultimately gonna propose as the right solution for the elementary school…we reuse the existing DOAS equipment,” he said, noting mini-splits use the same indoor cassettes and avoid major ductwork changes.

The presentation gave budgetary ranges to guide planning: about $250,000 for smaller systems (9 indoor units) and up to $420,000 for the largest configuration (15 indoor units), with the district’s average system closer to 11 indoor units. Brakemeyer emphasized those numbers are preliminary and would be refined through competitive bids and a feasibility walk-through: “These are budgetary numbers. We would open it up and get firm bids in the future,” he said.

Advantages cited included limiting service disruption (a single failed mini-split affects one classroom rather than an entire wing), broader availability of local service contractors and the ability to reuse existing DOAS ventilation equipment. He warned that VRF systems can be sensitive to installation quality and corrosion in shared piping, which can force larger replacements even when an outdoor compressor is changed.

Board members asked about winter performance, warranties and lifecycle expectations. Brakemeyer said the recommended LG commercial models proposed in the budget are rated to function in much lower temperatures (he cited models down to about –14°F) and estimated component life at about 10–12 years, with individual indoor units replaceable at lower cost later.

Next steps spelled out by the presenter and administration include a site walk with facilities staff to prioritize which systems to replace first, development of a turnkey proposal and breaking the work into one or more summer construction packages rather than doing the whole district at once. No contract was authorized at the Nov. 11 meeting; staff said they will return with prioritized options and more detailed bids.

Why it matters: the elementary building’s HVAC issues affect classroom comfort, potential instructional disruptions and capital planning. The board will need to weigh capital costs, phasing and funding sources before approving a project.