Charles City School Board examines new high school HVAC plan

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

The Charles City Community School Board reviewed a new plan for high school improvements during its regular meeting on Monday, Nov. 11.

The 2024 Mechanical and Electrical Building Assessment Summary by engineering consulting firm MODUS details an assessment of the high school building’s heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) and electrical system needs, proposals for improvements, and a multi-year plan to implement the projects while staying within an annual budget of $400,000 per year.

The plan would call for adding air conditioning to the three circle buildings, the administration offices, kitchen, cafeteria, and gymnasium. The steam boilers would be replaced with hot water boilers and electric upgrades would be done across the building.

Coming in with a total estimate of just under $3 million, the project would address the building’s need for HVAC upgrades and electrical improvements, but does not account for other improvements proposed in the previous attempt for a complete renovation of the building, such as new plumbing or renovating or replacing the circles buildings.

However, board member Bruce Koebrick noted that the facilities committee is reaching out to local plumbing contractors to see if that work could be done in conjunction with the HVAC and electrical upgrades.

“I hope to have more with Jerry on that at the next meeting,” said Koebrick, referring to Jerry Mitchell, the school district director of operations.

It was also noted that in the event the circles are taken out of the high school building at some point in the future, any new HVAC improvements would remain intact.

Utilizing a combination of Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) and Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) funds, the HAVC improvement plan is not anticipated to require a dedicated levy. The board will examine a more detailed breakdown of how it could be financed at either the next meeting or in December.

Also reporting from the facilities committee, Koebrick reported on a comparison made between Charles City and other districts regarding bus driver salaries.

The district currently pays route drivers $19.25 per hour, compared to neighboring districts that range from $20-25; and activity drivers $17.71 where other districts pay $15-30. Other factors like meal stipends and insurance are also considered, but the district will be looking for ways to offer competitive pay to attract and retain drivers, including offering overtime pay.

Following the facilities committee report, the board met with the students of the school’s SkillsUSA program and advisors Jesse White and Dan Bohlen.

Started up last year, the student-lead group is part of a nationwide organization that focuses on leadership and workforce development. The students meet a few times per month to develop workplace skills and learn about technical industries in areas like welding and diesel equipment.

In other business, the board held a public hearing on a resolution to move $169,618.43 in flex funds, approved an application to participate in the River Hills Center consortium for special education administrative costs, and approved the purchase of a new literacy curriculum.

Proposed multi-year HVAC and electrical upgrades at the Charles City High School

1) 400 Circle HVAC upgrade – $350,000 – add air conditioning, update ventilation to meet code requirements, replace controls, add new 225-amp panel for electric reheat, add new 100-amp breaker for roof-top unit.

2) Administrative offices HVAC upgrade – $275,000 – add air conditioning, update ventilation to meet code requirements, replace controls.

3) Cafeteria HVAC upgrade – $250,000 – add air conditioning, remove steam heaters, replace controls.

4) Kitchen HVAC upgrade – $350,000 – replace kitchen hood and exhaust fan, add wall between hoods for canopy, add makeup air unit, add air conditioning, remove steam heaters, replace controls.

5) Gymnasium & locker rooms HVAC upgrade – $400,000 – add air conditioning, remove steam heaters, provide code compliant ventilation, replace controls.

6) Upgrade electrical service for proposed mechanical equipment (#2, 3, 4, & 5 above)  – $200,000 – upgrade utility transformer, replace switchboard or consider 480-volt service.

7) Replace steam boilers with hot water boilers to serve existing heating water system – $360,000 – add condensing boilers, remove steam boilers and heat exchanger, remove pneumatic air compressor, upgrade controls, revise electrical from existing panels.

8) 500 Circle HVAC upgrade – $400,000 – add air conditioning, replace steam heaters with electric heaters, replace controls, replace existing feeders and breaker, feed electrical from existing panel for proposed mechanical equipment.

9) 600 Circle HVAC upgrade – $375,000 – add air conditioning, replace steam heaters with electric heaters, replace controls,  feed electrical from existing panel for proposed mechanical equipment.

— Presented to the Charles City Board of Education by MODUS, an engineering firm with offices in Des Moines, Iowa City and Waterloo.