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Boards hear $3.6M estimate to replace Gatesville HVAC; phased repairs and summer schedule considered
Summary
Facilities staff told the joint meeting that major repairs to Gatesville School’s geothermal/HVAC system were estimated at about $3.6 million; the boards discussed doing repairs in phases, using Buckland for summer school to permit contractor access, and seeking funding during the next budget cycle and grant applications.
Facilities staff reported the Gatesville geothermal system is aging and has experienced pipe and mechanical-room problems over time. An estimate obtained from ARCHESS and construction placed a comprehensive replacement or major renovation at roughly $3.6 million, a figure the school board and commissioners said would be refined for budget planning.
Participants discussed a phased approach so parts of the building could be taken offline in summer windows and contractors could perform work without disrupting instruction. Attendees noted that major mechanical work would likely require ceiling demolition, lighting upgrades and weekend commissioning activities; the project would need detailed design and scheduling with DPI oversight where relevant.
Speakers also discussed design options such as replacing units in pods or supplementing the geothermal field with closed-circuit coolers or heat pumps to reduce load. The boards agreed that if summer programs were held at Buckland, it would give contractors a summer window to complete disruptive work at other schools.
Next steps: facilities staff to provide a refined cost estimate and a phased maintenance/renovation plan for inclusion in the CIP and next year’s budget presentation.
