Pillar 3 of our Vision 2025 Strategic Plan is focused on student health and safety, including the need to replace the district's HVAC systems. This resulted in the development of a long-term facilities plan that has been implemented over the course of several years. In addition to the taxpayer and community support for the November 2022 referendum, this was significantly enhanced when the school district secured $2.865 million in energy tax credits in 2025 as a result of the deployment of the geothermal system. This led to facility and site improvements that have far exceeded the original goals. Following is a summary of the work that has been completed to date, with potential plans for Phase III under consideration for 2026 and beyond:

2023 and 2024 - Phase I Completed

• Installation of the geothermal wells and HVAC systems
• Replacement of district phones, intercoms, and fire alarms
• Installation of the BluePoint security systems
• Replacement of interior and exterior surveillance systems
• Partial installation of energy efficient LED lighting
• Replacement of ceiling grid and panels in designated areas
• Replacement of cafeteria tables
• Asbestos abatement in designated areas

2025 - Phase II Completed

• Installation of a new playground at Concord
• Installation of exterior door security measures
• Installation of additional energy efficient LED lighting
• Replacement of ceiling grid and panels in designated areas
• Installation of Concord site drainage system
• Renovation of music rooms in both schools
• Renovation of Cass gymnasiums and replacement of bleachers
• Installation of low maintenance vinyl tile flooring in designated areas
• Upgrade of Concord restrooms
• Replacement of specified electrical panels
• Replacement of Cass second story lift
• Completion of necessary masonry repair and tuck pointing
• Repair of specified concrete curbs and walks
• Replace rooftop exhaust ventilation systems

2026 - Phase III Options (currently under consideration)

• Installation of remaining energy efficient LED lighting
• Replacement of ceiling grid and panels in designated areas
• Replacement of the current burglar alarm system
• Installation of low maintenance vinyl tile flooring in designated areas
• Improvement of the Concord and Cass courtyards
• Replacement of parking lots and drives
• General building and grounds improvements

The simple answer is that geothermal heating and cooling was the most cost-effective, long-term solution. There was unanimous support among our Facilities Committee who worked closely with the school district’s architect and engineer to develop solutions and recommendations, as well as the Board of Education. The committee identified educational environment, indoor air quality, energy efficiency, maintenance and long-term life-cycle costs as the key items to balance in its recommendations. The geothermal system scored the highest in each of the identified key areas, including having by far the lowest life cycle cost.

Once the new GeoExchange system is complete, there will be 40 wells at Cass and 32 at Concord. Each is a vertical, 500 foot bore with 1,000 feet of piping, down and up. This means that there will be about 7.6 miles of continuous underground piping at Cass and approximately 6.1 miles of piping at Concord! There is no physical evidence of the geothermal wells on the surface and the ground can be used for any purpose, including activities, sports, playgrounds, and even parking lots. This closed geothermal loop will connect to our new HVAC system that is being installed in the summer of 2024 to provide the highest level of heating and cooling efficiency in our two schools for decades to come.

The energy savings are substantial with conservative initial estimates of 35 percent, resulting in an estimated annual savings from the operating budget of approximately $70,000 to $100,000 per year. Based on current energy costs, the long-term savings in a rising energy cost environment could be in the millions over the course of the coming decades.

In addition to long-term energy savings, life-cycle costs are probably more important. This takes into account the initial cost of the replacement system, expected maintenance costs, 20-year equipment replacement costs and residual value at the end of a 40-year cycle. Here is the life-cycle cost comparison of the three options studied.

The geothermal system is about 13 percent more expensive up front than the least expensive of the three options considered. However, the geothermal system was 39 percent less expensive in terms of total life-cycle costs, and 21 percent less expensive in total. Also, here is the replacement cost estimate summary, which shows additional detail about the options, costs, energy savings and comparisons.

Voters approved a referendum for $12.8 million, of which just under $11 million is dedicated to the safety, security, and geothermal HVAC projects. Prior to using any local costs from the bond issuance financed by our taxpayers, the district is using as much federal and state grant funding as possible, currently estimated at around $500,000. The low approved bids for the primary HVAC related projects so far are as follows:

Phase 1 - Geothermal Well Project
TCI Geothermal
$1,586,000

Phase 2 - HVAC Building Systems
Reed Construction
$7,800,800 (base bid and alternates 1 and 2) 

Related Asbestos Abatement - Concord
Valor Technologies, Inc.
$61,045 (pending approval)

Related Asbestos Abatement - Cass
Husar Abatement LLC
$88,880 (pending approval)

Grand Total To Date*
$9,536,725
*additional costs for approved safety and security improvements will be added.