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Board approves $1.56 million in high-priority facility work after Henley fire-suppression problem surfaces
Summary
The Klamath County School District board approved $1,558,987 for 2026-27 high-priority facilities projects after administrators disclosed a roughly $1 million unexpected Henley fire-suppression fix prompted by state groundwater reinjection rules.
The Klamath County School District board voted to approve $1,558,987 in high-priority facilities projects after administrators raised an urgent Henley fire-suppression problem that emerged during recent inspections.
District staff told the board that the geothermal system and the retention pond used at Henley to support the building's fire-suppression supply can no longer divert discharge into an open pond because state groundwater rules now require reinjection. "We were notified that the Henley system for fire suppression using geothermal storage pond, we can no longer use for that," the district presenter said, noting the change created an immediate funding gap of about $1,000,000.
Engineers from Atkins Engineering laid out replacement options and the tradeoffs the board faces. Dan Sculler of Atkins said the district could meet required fire flows by combining buried storage tanks with makeup supply from the city's domestic line; he described a connected ADS/HDPE storage system with about 70,000 gallons of capacity as a lower-cost, durable option. "It's 70,000 gallons total," Sculler said, and added the district would rely on the city's line (about 450 gallons per minute) plus stored volume to reach the required fire flow (about 1,500 gallons per minute for the firefighting duration discussed).
Board members pressed staff on interim steps and timing. Staff said temporary fixes such as relining ponds or increased fire-watch procedures had been discussed with the fire marshal, but installing buried tanks in an offseason (summer) window would be the least disruptive route. The administration recommended bringing the Henley project and three roof/cafeteria projects forward as the high-priority items.
After discussion about cost and whether to include the higher- or lower-cost tank options in the project total, a board member moved to approve the high-priority project list in the presented amount of $1,558,987. The motion passed by voice vote.
The board directed administrators to return with budget adjustments during the supplemental/budget-committee process and to continue working with the city and state on water-rights and permitting issues. The district also agreed to keep the board informed if project option selections materially change the total cost.
Next steps: staff said they will refine option pricing, consult the district's financial plan for a supplemental budget if needed, and pursue a summer construction window for work that requires ponds or tanks to be taken offline.
