Maintenance staff warns of failing chiller as district weighs using reserves for urgent repairs

Maintenance staff told the Lockwood K-12 board that a primary chiller’s controls failed and the unit cannot be relied on, and recommended a temporary control while the district plans a full replacement and piping reconfiguration. "The controls went out on it. I tried to fire it up today, and it is dead in the water," said Maintenance staff (S2). Staff described finding a short-term control to keep the system running through the school year but said a full replacement of a 170-ton chiller would be a major capital project.

Why it matters: Board members said the chiller, nitrogen generators, and rooftop air handlers are the district’s top maintenance priorities. Failure of large systems in multiple buildings at the same time is a concern because many systems were installed simultaneously and are reaching the end of useful life.

Board and staff agreed to stagger replacements where possible to avoid simultaneous failures. Maintenance staff recommended delaying some boiler work to create a replacement cadence so the district does not face multiple emergencies at once. "So if we can hold off... for another 3 or 4 or 5 years, that'll give us enough of a gap," Maintenance staff said.

Staff also described repeated problems at the middle school: three rooftop air handlers serve the building, and a motor failed in extreme cold because grease froze. The district discussed stocking replacement motors to reduce downtime and noted that motors for the 15–30 horsepower range can have long lead times and require crane scheduling for installation. Committee member (S3) and Maintenance staff spoke about ordering spares and balancing cost and storage concerns.

Another near-term repair identified was replacement of nitrogen generators that prevent rust in sprinkler piping; staff recommended doing older systems at the middle school first and waiting on the newer CTE unit. Vendors and bids were being pursued (staff referenced seeking pricing from Summit Fire and Security).

Funding options discussed included using the building reserve fund and grant or state money. Board members reviewed reserve balances (figures discussed by members) and suggested using a portion of reserves this year for the highest-priority work while replenishing the fund later. "If we use 25% of that, that's $350,000, which keeps our budgetary reserves at 75%," Committee member (S4) said as an example of a partial drawdown proposal.

What’s next: The board asked staff to gather bids and firm cost estimates and to return with a prioritized spending plan that shows which projects could be done this summer and which require bidding or bond financing. Staff recommended targeting January to begin procurement on large items like chillers and to plan summer work for items that can be completed more quickly.

Ending: District leaders agreed to reconvene with detailed estimates and a funding proposal before committing to major purchases so the board can weigh using reserves, grant funds, or bond financing.