Board approves $59,350 bid to upgrade building management system, hears construction progress

The Eastern Greene Schools board voted to accept a $59,350 bid from HFI to upgrade the district’s building management system and heard a progress report on several ongoing construction projects.

Dana from the Steph Nagel Group described the project as a systemwide upgrade that will control HVAC temperature settings and thermostat operations for classrooms, starting at the high school. "HFI was your lowest bidder at $59,350," Dana said, and the upgrade will replace an older, unsupported control system.

The board also received updates on roofing and site work. Dana said the low-slope roof is about 40% complete and the shingle roof is roughly 85% finished; metal panels and gutter work are planned to begin next week. She also reported a stabilization effort in the parking lot that required geofabric across an approximately 85-foot section and said the ADA restroom and parking-lot improvements are progressing on schedule.

Board members framed the upgrade as a maintenance and risk-reduction step. One member noted that the current system is "not even maintained by Microsoft any longer," emphasizing that replacement reduces the risk of an unsupported failure. The motion to accept the HFI bid passed on a recorded voice vote during the meeting.

The construction update also referenced preconstruction planning for the track and field work and a preconstruction meeting for parking improvements scheduled for the coming days. Administrators said they anticipated the remaining phases to coordinate with the school calendar to minimize disruption.

Next steps identified at the meeting include finalizing contract paperwork with the approved vendor and continuing construction oversight through the Steph Nagel Group.