Board approves $998,750 rooftop HVAC replacement at JVES

The Douglas County School District Board of Trustees voted 7‑0 on March 12 to award a contract to Echo Company to replace the rooftop heating and cooling units at Jacks Valley Elementary School (JVES). Trustee Susan Jansen moved to accept the lowest bid and add a 5% maximum change‑order authorization; Trustee Markus Zinke seconded the amended motion, which included the stated project cost of $998,750.

Phil Demus, the district's director of facilities, and Scott McCullough, the district project manager, presented the bid package and explained that the solicitation was structured with separate costs per site so trustees could opt to remove CCMES from the award. McCullough said, "Echo would be willing to do the work at just one campus," if the Board chose to limit the project to JVES. Demus and Superintendent Frankie Alvarado advised the Board that the existing units were near the end of their useful life and that deferring replacement risked freeze damage and further deterioration.

Trustees discussed whether to keep CCMES in the bid or proceed with JVES only; Mr. McCullough said adding another site now would delay any new project by roughly six to nine months. Trustee Dave Brady asked how change orders would be handled; Mr. McCullough said a 5% maximum authorization is embedded in the contract. The motion to award the JVES project to Echo with the 5% change‑order authorization and the $998,750 cost passed unanimously.