Pine‑Richland staff outline $20.1 million, three‑year capital plan focused on HVAC, roofs, asbestos abatement and paving

Pine‑Richland School District staff presented a three‑year capital plan at the Feb. 9 Building & Grounds joint governance meeting that centers on major HVAC and roof projects, flooring work and targeted site improvements.

Finance and facilities staff said the multiyear package totals about $20,100,000 across 2025‑26, 2026‑27 and 2027‑28, with the largest spending concentrated in years when HVAC and roofing projects coincide. "We're focusing on the current year, '26, '27, '27, '28, as those are bulk of our capital projects totaling $20,100,000, heavy focus on HVAC projects, roofing," Mr. Jeswick said.

Director of facilities Jeff Zimmerman described the capital items as long‑life assets and said most projects are functional necessities rather than discretionary items. "None of these are are wish list items," Zimmerman said, adding the district uses public bids and cooperative purchasing to secure value.

Major projects and funding notes

- HVAC: Replacement of unit ventilators and installation of new chillers at Richland and Wexford elementaries are planned to improve comfort and enable higher‑grade filtration.

- Roofing: The Wexford Elementary roof replacement bid has been received and the project is on the approval agenda for the meeting, Zimmerman said. He quantified contractor interest for that bid: "There were 18 that that pulled plans for this project and 9 actual bidders." The district expects additional roof replacements at Richland and Hance in later years.

- Flooring and asbestos: Phase 2 of high‑school terrazzo replacement will continue this summer to address cracking and trip hazards. Zimmerman said a state grant awarded about 18 months ago will cover "almost 40%" of a middle‑school asbestos‑abatement and floor‑replacement project; staff described the presence of asbestos‑containing materials in flooring that will be removed or encapsulated and replaced with vinyl tile.

- Paving and site work: Staff estimate $1.8 million to $2.0 million in paving and concrete work over the next three years, including Eden Hall parking, sidewalks at Wexford and stairs at Richland.

- Pool: Phase 1 of recommended pool repairs — primarily replacement of the pool liner, gutters and tile work — is budgeted at about $600,000 for summer 2028; mechanical systems work is planned for a later phase.

- Vehicles and equipment: A phased vehicle‑replacement program begins this summer with three vehicles; staff said one dump truck with a plow currently serves the district and adding redundancy is under consideration. Zimmerman estimated a dump truck at about $75,000.

Budget phasing and reserves

Finance staff explained the district is phasing funding across fiscal years so money stays in general operating reserves until invoices are due, allowing the district to earn interest on funds. Jeswick said the district will split payments for large projects as appropriate; for example, the Wexford roofing project is planned to be funded 52% in 2025‑26 and 48% in the following year.

Energy and operations

Zimmerman reported district‑wide energy‑use reductions of roughly 12–13% compared with prior consumption trends, which he characterized as approximately $63,000 in cost avoidance even as market energy prices rose. "We're actually at around 13%, and that comes up to be about 63,000 in cost avoidance," Zimmerman said, noting the district is also working with staff and students on conservation initiatives.

Next steps and board action

Staff said most projects will be procured via public bid and cooperative purchasing, with construction scheduled to occur during the district’s summer window (roughly early June to mid‑August). The Wexford roof replacement bid was identified as ready for approval at the meeting; no formal vote or recorded motion on that item is included in the transcript. Staff also said another site visit and a facilities tour are planned for early August to view progress on HVAC and roof projects.

Context and impact

District staff described the current cluster of projects as the result of multiple long‑life assets reaching the end of their expected useful life (roof warranties, original 1993 terrazzo, etc.). They said after the next few peak years they anticipate capital spending returning closer to more typical annual levels. The projects affect all schools in the district and are intended to address safety, code and operational reliability for students and staff.

The meeting adjourned after staff questions and one intended public commenter did not speak.