Hays USD 489 board approves $2M Roosevelt HVAC project

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

The Hays school board approved a more than $2 million project on Monday night to replace the HVAC system at Roosevelt Elementary School. 

The bid of $2.035 million was from Glassman Corp. This included two alternates. The school board approved an upgrade from a lower bid of $2.019 million. 

The higher bid included equipment and controls that were similar to what the district already has.

Rusty Lindsay, USD 489, director of buildings and grounds, said going with the higher bid would allow the district to use the same software it does with the other HVAC systems in the district. The districts would also be able to keep the same parts on hand for both systems.

"I think we will get our $16,000 back just in that—not having to bring in another system," Lindsay said.

Also any service on the system will be provided locally instead of from Wichita, Lindsay said.

Joe Glassman, president/CEO of Glassman Corp., said in May the HVAC system at the school, which was installed in 1967, has well outlived its life expectancy and was in "dire need" of replacement.

The average lifespan for similar systems is 25 years.

Equipment will be ordered immediately. Work is estimated to start in March and take place in the evening until at least the end of the school year.

The district plans to pay for the project through a lease purchase agreement. The annual payment on the debt would be $240,000 paid over 10 years. The board will consider the financing on the project at its next meeting.

The board also approved bids on two other capital projects at its meeting Monday night. 

It approved a low bid from Paul-Wertenberger Construction of Hays for $28,500 for a secure entrance at O'Loughlin Elementary School.

The board also approved the purchase of two walk-in freezers for nutrition services. The low bid was from Sunflower Restaurant and Supply of Salina for $35,994.

One of the freezers will replace the unit at Roosevelt. The other will replace a freezer at Rockwell Administration Center that is being used by Lincoln Elementary School. The new Lincoln freezer will be placed at the school instead of Rockwell.

The board also approved board policy updates and the district's audit report.

Two-year administrator contracts and district administrator contracts were tabled until the next meeting as the meeting was running late into the evening.