While the overall physical condition of both schools are structurally sound and the schools have been well maintained, there are significant safety, security and HVAC needs that must be addressed outside of the normal budget. This is referenced under Pillar 3 of the Board of Education’s Vision 2025 Strategic Plan.

This has resulted in a long-term facilities plan for safety, security and HVAC, which is expected to be implemented over a 5-year time horizon. The planned work related to the successful November 2022 referendum is front-loaded into the plan in years 2023 and 2024. Additional facility work to be paid out of local funds is expected to be completed over the course of the final three years. The work in the years 2025, 2026, and 2027 will be recommended to the Board of Education after review by the Facilities Committee.

2023

• Installation of the BluePoint Security system, a high-level, integrated notification system for a gun threat or active shooter situation.
• Replacement and increase in the number and quality of interior and exterior surveillance cameras that are integrated with the BluePoint system.
• Installation of a modernized intercom and internal communication system.
• Replacement of the current phone system.
• Replacement of the current fire alarm system.
• Installation of additional physical security measures at all entrances and exits.

2024

• Replacement of the HVAC systems in both schools with a geothermal system for significantly improving energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and maintaining an optimal educational environment. This is expected to also realize significant long-term utility cost savings.

2025*

• Replacement of cafeteria tables
• Completion of masonry repair and tuckpointing

2026*

• Replacement of parking lots and drives
• Repair of sidewalks and concrete pads

2027*

• Replacement of storage buildings
• Replacement of the burglar alarm system

*Draft plans to be reviewed by the Facilities Committee for recommendation to the Board of Education.

At Concord, 9 of the 11 zones are heated and cooled by HVAC systems that were installed in either 1996 or 1997 and have already exceeded their life expectancy. The remaining two were installed in 2000 and 2004. At Cass, 15 of the 19 zones are heated and cooled by HVAC systems that were installed in 2002 or prior, with the vast majority at or nearing the end of their life expectancy.

ASHRAE is the industry organization that sets standards and guidelines for most equipment and here is the HVAC Equipment Life Expectancy Chart. Approximately 80 percent of the district’s HVAC infrastructure needs to be replaced. After much planning and research, it has been determined that the most cost-effective method to do so is to replace the system at once. Following are several pictures of the school district's current HVAC systems, and here are additional pictures for those interested :

The simple answer is that it is by far the most cost-effective, long-term solution. This unanimous determination was made by a 12-member Facilities Committee, made up of district parents, community members, Board members, teachers and staff who worked closely with the school district’s architect and engineer to develop solutions and recommendations. 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.

Different systems were comparably priced in initial costs, but the geothermal system scored the highest in each of the identified key areas, including having by far the lowest life cycle cost. The proposed renovation of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems includes individual geo-exchange heating and cooling systems at both schools.

Here is more information on the proposed system and here are the proposed locations of the boring sites for each school. Full tonnage calculations and specifications will not be fully developed unless the project proceeds into the full engineering phase. The analysis performed to date is pre-design so that the district can avoid engineering costs until the project is approved by the voters of our community.

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.

In terms of timelines, the most urgent work will revolve around the planning and installation of the BluePoint Security System, new video surveillance cameras, updated intercom and phone systems, the replacement of the fire alarm systems and the installation of additional physical security measures across the district. We expect this work to be completed prior to the opening of school in August of 2023.

The replacement of the HVAC systems will take additional time. With continued extended lead times for this type of equipment due to supply chain concerns, as well as making certain we allow ourselves the most competitive bidding environment, we expect to complete this work in the summer of 2024. This will allow us time to finish project design in the coming weeks and months and go to bid with the best timing to complete the project as cost effectively as possible. In the meantime, we are using $274,000 of our grant funds to address several classrooms and spaces that are of the greatest need at Concord in the summer of 2023.

Anyone with questions should contact Superintendent Mark Cross at mcross@cassd63.org or 331-481-4004.