Board hears capital projects update; Atkinson HVAC, bus-garage and sinkhole repair outlined
Summary
District staff updated the board on corridor lighting upgrades, a VoIP phone transition, sinkhole repair at the Hendersonville High softball field and a multi‑phase HVAC plan (Atkinson phase 2/3) awaiting DPI approval; members urged staff to pursue expedited review where possible.
Carl Taylor briefed the Henderson County Board of Public Education on Dec. 8 about ongoing and planned capital projects.
Local projects include corridor‑lighting upgrades at Apple Valley, North Henderson, Upward and West Henderson to replace aging fluorescent fixtures, and a districtwide move to voice‑over‑IP phones targeted for completion by Jan. 1. A sinkhole at the Hendersonville High softball field is under contract for repair with a goal of finishing before the next softball season.
Facilities work managed by county MRTS includes a bus‑garage design kickoff Dec. 17 and multi‑phase HVAC work at Atkinson. Taylor said the Atkinson phase‑2/3 HVAC plans were submitted to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction on Nov. 14 and staff are waiting on DPI approval; board members asked whether the district could use an expedited or emergency process because some hallways are unconditioned. Legal counsel and staff said DPI approval is statutory for projects affecting occupied student spaces, but administrators offered to contact DPI leadership and the county project manager to try to accelerate engineering reviews and procurement.
Board members also discussed a DOT widening project that may require a retaining wall and could affect athletic‑field footprints and signage; staff said funds from prior Right‑of‑Way payments could be used to relocate signs.
What’s next: staff will report back on DPI timing and potential acceleration strategies; the board asked administrators and county partners to pursue any reasonable steps to shorten the approval and procurement timelines.
