Systems at schools are discussed

There's plenty of work to be done.

But it's not at all clear how to pay for it.

Engineers outlined a "blueprint" of improvements in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems in the Jay School Corporation Monday.

The total price tag: An estimated $4 million.

"These aren't issues that are going to go away," said superintendent Tim Long. "We need to decide how we're going to move on."

Thought it would be possible to bond for the projects at interest rates as low as one percent, board members indicated a preference for a pay-as-you-go approach, perhaps bundling some of the projects together when possible.

"I don't like the idea of doing it all at once," said board member Jay Halstead. "There's always going to be a more efficient system coming out next year. ... I like pay-as-you-go."

Board president Bryan Alexander added, "I heard an extension agent say once there's never been a tractor that wouldn't run another year. ... We don't want to raise taxes. ... We also want to be as efficient as possible."

Long urged board members to analyze the proposal, which was put together by CSO Architects and Validated Custom Solutions, both of Indianapolis, for future discussion.

"This is just to give you some thoughts to consider," said John Rigsby of CSO.

The HVAC assessment recommends:

•Changing out existing indoor air handling units in the library at Bloomfield Elementary School at a cost of about $48,000.

•Rezoning East Elementary School, downsizing the chiller, installing a new condensing boiler, and putting in new air handler units and controls at an estimated cost of $798,000.

•Enhancing controls for classroom dehumidification, replacing boilers with condensing boilers, and installing heat recovery chillers at both General Shanks Elementary School and Judge Haynes Elementary School at an estimated cost of $276,000 per school. Halstead and business manager Brad DeRome questioned the wisdom of replacing the Haynes and Shanks boilers since they are only about 10 years old.

•Changing out existing classroom unit vents with new vertical heating pump heat recovery terminal units, installing new controls, and air conditioning the multi-purpose room at Redkey Elementary School at an estimated cost of $710,000.

•Replacing all HVAC terminal units, the cooling tower, boiler, and controls and re-piping all of West Jay Middle School at an estimated cost of $1,320,000. The West Jay system is not a closed loop water heating system and has been damaged over time by minerals in Dunkirk's water. Board member Mike Shannon suggested exploring a geothermal system. Engineers acknowledged that would create greater efficiencies but said it would involve a larger initial investment.

•Changing out existing classroom unit vents with new vertical heating pump heat recovery terminal units, installing new controls and new boiler, and air conditioning the multi-purpose room at Westlawn Elementary School at an estimated cost of $630,000.

Anticipated energy savings from the upgrades would range from 15 to 20 percent per year.

To pay for the work, the school corporation could dedicate about $400,000 per year from the capital projects fund and address the issues over about 10 years. It could also issue Qualified School Construction Bonds, which would have extremely low interest rates, or it could enter into a "guaranteed energy savings contract" and pay for the work over 10 years.

Engineers also said further study of Jay County High School and East Jay Middle School could result in recommendations for greater efficiency. But board members noted that JCHS has just been the subject of a multi-million dollar HVAC project and showed little enthusiasm for further work there at this time.

Long told board members there's still uncertainty about levels of state funding for the year ahead.

"We haven't seen anything tangible really from the state," he said. "We have a plan for reductions if we need to enact it."

DeRome, meanwhile, is watching school dollars carefully during the final quarter of the calendar year.

"At present, I am not expecting to borrow for general fund cash flow needs from the Bond Bank or any other source," DeRome reported to the board. "If the state of Indiana delays our payments for the Basic Grant, I will have to address this issue again."

DeRome noted that interest earnings for the school corporation are down dramatically. He forecast annual interest earnings in 2009 to be only $27,000, compared with $146,000 in 2008.

In other business, the board:

•Hired Michael Whetstone as a custodian at JCHS, Judy Supinger as a part-time instructional assistant at General Shanks, and Gene Pope as an instructional assistant at the Pennville alternative program.

•Approved a leave of absence for mechanic Greg Runyon.

•Approved the pending retirements of librarian Claire Smith, teacher Gary Tarr and director of facilities Ron Krieg.

•Approved Joni Robbins as cheerleading sponsor at Bloomfield, Becky May as Just Say No Club sponsor at Redkey, Lisa Weitzel as girls' basketball coach at General Shanks, Diana Hill as Just Say No Club sponsor at Westlawn, Joella Rinker as girls' basketball coach at Westlawn, Lori Sims as Just Say No Club sponsor at East Jay, Tiffany Mathias as swim coach at East Jay, Ryan Rogers as seventh grade boys' basketball coach at East Jay, Tammy Boltz as seventh grade girls' basketball coach at East Jay, Sheri McIntire as eighth grade girls' basketball coach at East Jay, Ryan Smitley as wrestling coach at East Jay, Erica Tomano as sixth grade girls' basketball coach at East Jay, Josh Selvey as sixth grade boys' basketball coach at West Jay, Kathy Nelson as Just Say No Club sponsor at West Jay, Joella Rinker as eighth grade girls' basketball coach at West Jay, Matthew Claycomb as eighth grade boys' basketball coach at West Jay, Terry Bantz as seventh grade boys' basketball coach at West Jay, Teresa Paquette as seventh grade girls' basketball coach at West Jay, Kurtis Hess as assistant wrestling coach at JCHS, Kim Homan as intramurals sponsor at JCHS, Kim Homan as Earth Watch Club sponsor at JCHS, Tom Ferguson as assistant football coach at JCHS, Christie Sommers as assistant girls' basketball coach at JCHS, Tracy Muhlenkamp as freshman girls' basketball coach at JCHS, and Gary LeMaster as volunteer assistant girls' basketball coach at JCHS.

•Accepted the resignations of Tammy Velasco as Just Say No Club sponsor at East Jay, Sherri McIntire as JV girls' basketball coach at JCHS, Jacob Workman as assistant football coach at JCHS, and Sheryl Buckmaster as Just Say No Club sponsor at West Jay.

•Approved bus use requests by the Jay Community Center, GOAL classes, and the FFA.

•Heard a report from Long about a trip this month to Chicago with a local delegation meeting with Taiwan officials on education and economic development issues.

•Accepted a $1,000 donation from the Dunkirk Volunteer Fire Department to West Jay's cheerleading fund and a $1,000 donation from Wal-Mart for supplies for the new greenhouse at Westlawn.

•Heard assistant superintendent Wood Barwick report that career and technical education enrollments have been certified showing an increase in vocational enrollment. "Classes are full," Barwick said.

•Reviewed a schedule of tentative meeting dates for 2010.

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