Facilities update: HVAC units running on temporary controls; some track work delayed until spring

A district facilities staff member updated the board on Oct. 24 about multiple construction and maintenance projects across Knox County schools, describing what has been completed and what remains to finish.

The staff member said rooftop units and some cafeteria units have been installed and are running but are currently on "temporary stats," not yet hooked into centralized controls. He told the board that running units manually would not void warranties, which had been a question from board members: "...it doesn't affect the warranty at all. We can run them on temporary stats until we get them all able to be tied in together and monitored that way."

Work at Lynn (Lane) Camp, Knox Middle and other sites includes heat-pump installations, ductwork completion and ongoing electrical and control work; the staff member noted above‑ceiling inspections are scheduled and that contractors are being pushed to keep work moving. On athletic tracks, the contractor advised delaying resurfacing until spring because surface application depends on sufficiently warm temperatures.

The facilities representative said they expect completion dates to shift depending on weather and control-system work but that teams are visiting sites weekly and coordinating with project managers to minimize disruption to students. Board members asked clarifying questions about whether units were running and whether warranties were affected; facility staff confirmed temporary operation and explained next steps for final start-up and integration.