Board approves $871,250 for engineering of three elementary HVAC projects

The Franklin County Board of Supervisors on July 21 approved $871,250 to engage RRMM for architectural and engineering services to design HVAC projects at Rocky Mount, Callaway and Snow Creek elementary schools. The board approved the contract in a roll‑call vote after school leaders said the existing five‑year contract allows the work to proceed without a separate RFP and that moving now would keep the schedule for construction next summer.

"$871,250 was engineering work for all 3 schools," Superintendent Sears said when discussing the scope and timeline, urging the board that approving RRMM would allow the projects to be designed on a schedule that makes next‑summer construction feasible. School finance staff outlined that the work is part of an updated capital improvement plan and that approving the A&E funding will help position the division for school construction grants.

Board members asked whether the services could be priced separately by school and whether doing all three together would produce construction savings; staff said the design can be broken out so the board may bid and time projects independently. Supervisor Quinn said the $800,000–$1,000,000 range for A&E services appears consistent with expected construction costs for three schools and moved approval. The motion carried unanimously by roll call.

The superintendent noted the budget context the schools are working in — multi‑year enrollment declines and grant timing that contributed to recent operating deficits — and said the division is trying to time projects and grant applications to minimize local impacts. The board directed staff to bring the resulting contract documents and any required appropriations to a future consent agenda or meeting packet so work may proceed under the approved terms.