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Superintendent outlines $1.6 million boiler replacement and two generators; playgrounds and some gyms likely closed for summer work
Summary
Dr. Wheeler said contractors will replace boilers and install two campus generators (county‑funded $1.6M) starting May 25, closing portions of the campus including the elementary playground; work aims to finish before the school year but will require at least one system shutdown day.
Superintendent Dr. Wheeler gave the board a detailed preview of major summer construction projects: a full boiler‑system replacement (conversion from fuel oil to propane) and installation of two building generators, funded in part by the county.
Dr. Wheeler told the board the county contributed roughly $1.6 million to the boiler project. The work will install an underground propane line, new boilers and associated piping; contractors will close the old high‑school back lot and limit campus access during construction. He said one generator will be dedicated to McCleary Elementary and the other will serve the middle and high school; the project includes concrete pads and automatic transfer switches so operations can switch nearly instantaneously if power is lost.
"We are the emergency shelter for the county," Dr. Wheeler said, explaining that the generators will allow the campus to function fully as an emergency shelter in the event of an outage. For safety, the elementary playground will be closed during the work and some gym space may be temporarily unavailable depending on dehumidification‑unit placement. Dr. Wheeler said major work is planned to begin May 25 immediately after school ends and that contractors expect to finish before the next school year, though he cautioned the board a crane day will require a system shutdown at an undetermined date.
Board members asked technical questions about which main panels each generator will serve; Dr. Wheeler acknowledged a labeling typo in the materials and promised to confirm panel assignments and timelines at the next briefing. He emphasized the district will relocate summer‑school programming to the middle school to avoid construction zones.
The board did not take action on the construction items at this meeting; Dr. Wheeler will return with firm timelines and specific access plans after meeting the contractors on April 23.
