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After listening to presentations about the Bluffton Middle School’s heating and air conditioning (HVAC) system from several building services providers, the Bluffton-Harrison M.S.D. Board authorized Superintendent of Schools Dr. Julie A. Wood to draft a request for proposals.
During several recent meetings the board heard a total of three presentations from contractors concerning the heating and cooling systems at the middle school.
The board is weighing their options for upgrading or refurbishing the school’s heating and cooling systems in hopes of addressing comfort issues and reducing utility costs.
They reviewed various findings from the three firms involved in the process, Siemens, Performance Services, and Emcor. Each contractor had similar recommendations as to replacing or upgrading boilers, chillers, and air handling equipment.
The board is focusing on the possibility of achieving guaranteed energy savings. By seeking a performance guarantee the school corporation could seek to take advantage of funding options through Senate Bill 1158, which offers a creative financing approach for school systems seeking energy savings.
By using the guaranteed savings approach the school could protect vital capital project funds while solving the environmental issues at the school. Essentially the bill allows you to defer costs over time, saving funds from year to year.
Each contractor offered various guaranteed results such as a guaranteed learning environment in terms of temperature, humidity, and other factors.
At their next board meeting on Sept. 10, 2007 the board will meet in executive session with an Indianapolis based consultant to help draft the Request for Proposals, and to examine all of the school district’s funding options for the project.
If the board does decide to seek proposals, depending on which vendor they select, the total project cost is expected to be about $2.5 million, with new chillers, boilers, and air handling equipment installed.
The board is focused on a timetable that would have them seek proposals over the next few months and work on the upgrades at the middle school could begin by next summer.
In other business at Monday night’s meeting, the board heard a presentation from Elementary School Principal Tom Gibson and Outdoor Learning Lab Coordinator Stephanie Hiday.
Hiday reported that the backers of the project had recently signed a contract for the lab’s construction with Meyer Building of Craigville. Hiday said the backers had raised $80,000 to date and Meyer Building representatives had assured her that the cost of construction will not exceed that amount.
The project recently received preliminary approval from the Wells Area Plan Commission, and will be formally considered by the APC at their next meeting on Sept. 6, 2007.
Hiday displayed conceptual drawings of the facility which has morphed dramatically from the simple outdoor pavilion first proposed by the PTO in Spring 2006.
Now fully realized, the lab, named the “Tiger Discovery Den,” in a contest by elementary school pupils last June, is a fully enclosed classroom facility. Backers had hoped to include a rest room facility but Hiday said organizers recently found out that to tie in to city sewers would require the addition of a pumping station, with an estimated cost of $15,000.
Hiday said Meyer will “rough in,” the facilities for bathroom plumbing, but the area will be used as a storage room. Should the need become pressing for a bathroom facility, Gibson predicted that Hiday and others would hit the ground running to raise the additional funds.
Gibson said the nearest sewer main the city was able to locate was on the football field. Due to the site elevation and distance to any existing main a pumping station would be needed to include a rest room, Gibson said.
Hiday offered thanks to the many people and organizations in the community who recognized the benefits of the addition and offered their financial support.
The building will have a Forest Green roof, with a stucco and stone exterior.
Double doors from the lab will lead outside to a garden area. Students will be able to observe plant and animal life, and seasonal changes. The facility will be available for lessons ranging from earth sciences to reading and composition studies.
The facility as depicted in the most recent plans would be a 30-foot by 40-foot structure, with a 9 x 4 gabled porch. Hiday said construction could start within a few days of approval by the APC, with a construction timetable lasting between 6-8 weeks.
The board also approved accepting the resignation of girls track coach Christine Zadylak, and approved hiring several staff members based on the recommendations of Dr. Wood.
Those hired included part-time bus drivers Tami Sark and Bev Taylor, Vicki VanMatre as Assistant Athletic Director, Brad Yates as Fall Weight Training Instructor, and Ben Durham as Winter and Spring Weight Training Instructor.
The board also adopted the 2008 budget forms, Capital Projects Plan, Bus Replacement Plan, Tuition Transfer Appeals, board goals, and several supporting documents on second reading.
The board also approved the Region 8 food bids based on the recommendation of Food Service Director Robin McCorkle. Also approved were a series of language changes to policies and classified language. Many of the changes were made based on suggestions from the Indiana School Board Association after that group reviewed the district’s policies and guidelines.
Wood had requested the review and made revamping policies and procedures one of her main goals after being hired in 2006.
The board also tabled a discussion on possible changes to their meeting times, as newly appointed board member Dawn Frauhiger was not able to attend Monday night’s meeting.
Monday’s meeting and the one two weeks before had been shifted from their advertised start time of 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. to accommodate the work schedule of board member Kent Shady who had been delayed by work duties. Shady is an hourly employee at Peyton’s Northern.
With Frauhiger absent on Monday night and the following meeting in two weeks set for a 6 p.m. executive session, the board opted to delay considering a permanent change in start times.
Board President Steve Huffman noted Shady’s schedule is subject to change and the meeting time changes may not be required in the long term.
jgwallace@news-banner.com
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