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Rock Hills board moves forward with bond-funded HVAC overhaul; staff to present calendar options
Summary
After a successful bond election, the Rock Hills board reviewed plans and timelines for a district HVAC replacement and related building work, discussed procurement and phasing, and asked staff to offer calendar options (including a one-year 15-minute-per-day approach) to meet state instructional-hour requirements.
The Rock Hills Board of Education on Monday confirmed next steps for a bond-funded HVAC replacement at the high school and directed staff to return with detailed procurement timelines and calendar options to limit instructional disruption.
Superintendent (name not specified) told the board the bond election was successful and that contractors will go out to bid after spring break so equipment can be ordered on time. “I’m very thankful for the taxpayers to voluntarily pay more taxes to help us out with our HVAC situation at the high school,” the superintendent said, noting the district would work with a construction manager (CM) to coordinate phasing and minimize interruptions to school activities.
Board members discussed how long parts of the building will be off-limits and asked for a clear phasing plan. The superintendent said the CM would provide a phasing approach by July and that the earliest parts of the building could be scheduled to allow athletic practices and events while work continues elsewhere.
Because the project could compress the school year, board members pressed staff for options to meet the state requirement of 1,116 student contact hours without undoing other breaks. Staff presented an approach that would add 15 minutes to each school day for one year, which the superintendent said would preserve most calendar breaks while yielding sufficient instructional time. The board directed the superintendent to gather teacher input and return by the April board meeting with two to three calendar options for the board and community to consider.
Board members also asked staff to clarify the district’s role in bidding and contracting. The superintendent said the CM is expected to handle subcontract selection and weekly coordination; the board’s involvement will be limited but staff will provide updates and calendar options in advance so the public and families can plan.
Members emphasized that the district should prioritize other deferred maintenance projects where feasible during the construction window and compile a multi-year capital-outlay list for future budgeting. Staff also noted a pending Patterson Family Foundation grant application to upgrade the district’s welding bays and equipment, with a decision expected in June.
Next steps: staff will return with a phasing schedule from the CM, a concrete procurement timeline, and multiple calendar options based on staff and teacher feedback. No final calendar change was adopted at Monday’s meeting.
