Boiler failure raises safety concerns; district hears $10 million estimate to fix Junior High

Committee members reviewed a sequence of service reports after a burner failure at the Junior High two months earlier. McKinstry repaired and rewired the burner, tested boiler operation and safeties, and recorded that the boiler and burner need replacement, multiple components are in poor condition, flue piping may be leaking into the boiler room, and condensate piping is rusted and leaking. McKinstry recommended installing carbon monoxide alarms in the boiler room and the adjacent hallway.

At the district's annual service, Atlas Boiler reported corroded tubes and a corroded mud leg and warned that chemical cleaning could damage the tubes and the mud leg, likely requiring tube replacement. Maintenance Supervisor Kevin Wagner said the boiler is "well past its service life" and poses a significant safety issue. Board Chair Ann Yount suggested a bond specifically for the Junior High; Instructor Jared Hughes noted the Idaho Rural Schools Building Fund as another funding source. Craig Turner estimated it would cost the district about $10 million to make the Junior High serviceable; Candy Turner volunteered to lead a task force to address the building's needs. The committee did not take a formal vote; next steps would involve detailed cost estimates and bringing funding proposals to the board.