Board: elementary HVAC on schedule; approves TMS front‑door replacement and tables elementary intercom pending budget

Facilities and IT updates dominated the June 8 meeting. Facilities staff reported the elementary HVAC replacement with Universal Construction is progressing ahead of schedule, with demolition and duct work substantially complete and the first rooftop unit set; project staff said the work remains on budget and contingency funds have not been touched.

"Everything is going off really, really well," a facilities presenter said, summarizing the work sequence and a targeted June 18 milestone for the kindergarten Pod (Area A). He said roofing and ductwork were in place and that the contractor had begun setting rooftop units.

The board separately considered capital work at Tonganoxie Middle School after facilities staff recommended replacing four front doors that sometimes become inoperable when concrete expands and door jambs shift. The recommended contract was $23,874.72. Installers told the board the hardware has a 10‑year warranty and installation carries a one‑year warranty; major slab replacement would be a separate scope if it proved necessary later.

Board members framed the door work as a safety priority. "If the doors aren't working properly, I don't see this as a choice — you have to have functioning doors for the safety of all people that are entering and exiting that building," one member said. The board approved the door replacement (action item 5.8) by voice vote 7–0.

Forest, who presented the elementary intercom proposal, asked the board to approve a targeted intercom system (Wasga) to replace the current fire‑alarm‑based announcements and to add two‑way and room‑level calling. He said the elementary HVAC demo and ceiling work provide an installation window: speakers can be dropped into ceiling grid slots as crews finish the HVAC work.

Forest also described procurement and capital constraints: the district keeps $150,000 in capital equipment funds and the intercom bid could be partially offset by a potential $40,000 grant (award notification expected mid‑July). He added that the equipment lead time is four to five weeks and that Chromebooks and PCs have seen large price and lead‑time volatility this year, which affected device procurement decisions.

Board members expressed concern about the district’s operating budget and preferred waiting for the July 9 budget closeout and the grant decision before committing capital dollars. After discussion, the board voted to table the intercom purchase until the budget closeout and grant determination; the motion to table carried 7–0. Members asked staff to provide a firm drop‑dead date for ordering if the grant is awarded and to explore whether speakers alone could be installed while ceilings are open if that would materially reduce cost or scheduling risk.

The board’s vote approved the door replacement as a capital safety project and deferred the intercom to a follow‑up meeting after the July budget closeout.