Renovation work is proposed to begin this summer at Plum Middle School.
The school board is expected to vote Jan. 28 to approve paying The Hayes Design Group-Architects $170,600 for design and engineering services toward work totaling $4.3 million.
The district is beginning renovations at its middle school while working on an addition and alterations to O’Block Elementary School, which is a much larger project that’s expected to take longer to complete.
HDG is working on the design development phase for O’Block, scheduled to be finished in April after the board approved it in December.
The work proposed for this summer at the middle school was selected because it can be started when the school year ends May 30, and because grant money can be used to pay for part of it, said Randy Hunter, a project architect with HDG.
Of the $4.3 million total project cost, about $1.9 million would be paid with grant money, according to HDG’s presentation to the board.
The cost to the district would be about $2.4 million, which would be paid from $10 million the district has already borrowed as part of a plan to borrow $30 million over three years, said Ryan Manzer, district business manager.
“This is a realistic approach to what we believe we can get done this summer,” Superintendent Rick Walsh said. “Ordering materials, getting supplies, bidding it out … and utilizing the grant funds, being fiscally responsible. Almost half is being paid for through grants.
“We also wanted to be mindful of not having disruptions to teaching and learning,” he said.
This summer’s tasks
If approved, there are 10 items that would be worked on this summer.
Five involve replacing equipment that has reached its lifespan — the chilled water pump; boiler burners; hot water heating pumps; building exhaust fans; and house traps, which are plumbing fixtures designed to block sewer gases from entering buildings.
The other items are courtyard and basement waterproofing; replacing exterior doors and windows; replacing the HVAC digital control system; modifying the art wing HVAC; and a new, ground-mounted dust collector to replace a roof-mounted unit.
While Hunter said most of the work can be finished in the summer, there is some that could continue into the fall. Contractors will be told to prioritize work in classrooms and other areas of the building students use so that any work in the fall would be in mechanical spaces, on the roof and otherwise outside of student spaces.
If the board approves the design and construction phase services proposed by HDG on Jan. 28, the firm says, that work could start immediately and be finished in late March.
Down the road
Future work at the middle school consists of replacing or repairing parts of the roof; upgrading kitchen equipment; replacing classroom, library and corridor ceilings; replacing interior door hardware and new security grilles; relocating the corner of the track at the football field; redesign of the main entrance; gymnasium finish upgrades; a new dedicated outdoor air system for the classroom wing; and lighting and lighting controls at classrooms and corridors.
