New HVAC system coming to Plano Middle School

Plano School District 88 Board members voted unanimously last week to hire Mechanical Inc. to install a new heating, cooling and ventilation system at Plano Middle School for the 2016-17 school year at a cost of $2,416,410.

“By moving forward with this project, we will be taking an important step in the long-term health of our middle school learning environment,” Superintendent Dr. Hector Garcia told board members.

Garcia said the board had set a budget of $2.4 million for the work including alternates, but noted that the additional cost will not present a problem.

The bids from five firms with the alternates ranged from the low bid of $2,416,410 to $3,225,000.

At the Dec. 14 board meeting, Garcia said the cost of the project would be included in the district’s fiscal 2017 budget as well as partly paid for from fund balances.

But because the district has saved money in various areas, they expect to pay the total amount this year, he said.

The architectural firm of Cordogan, Clark and Associates of Aurora was hired at the district’s December board meeting to look at the HVAC equipment in the school. They determined that it is outdated and in need of replacement.

Bryan Appel, school district director of operations, said the system includes the original 1959 steam boiler and is a mix of several different types of heating and minimal cooling equipment.

“It is antiquated, has passed its useful life span, is a source of constant maintenance, is a noisy distraction during the learning process and needs to be replaced,” Appel said.

First special ed co-op meeting set

In other business during last week’s board meeting, Garcia told the board the first board meeting of the recently formed Plano Area Special Education Cooperative has been set for 10 a.m. March 29 at the Newark High School, 413 Chicago Road in Newark.

Garcia was instrumental in forming the new cooperative after the Kendall County Special Education Cooperative (KCSEC) was dissolved several months ago when School District 308, based in Oswego, withdrew from the group.

Garcia has since been named president of the PASEC board.

“We’re continuing to make progress toward ensuring that our students and parents experience a seamless transition from KCSEC to PASEC,” he told the board.

He said Plano hosted a meeting in February for parents of the PASEC students. More parent meetings will be scheduled in the future, he said.

School board members approved an Intergovernmental Agreement between its board and the other PASEC member boards – Newark High School District 18, Newark Grade School District 66, and Lisbon Grade School District 90.

The Plano School Board last month hired Amy Lee of Plano as the first PASEC director. She will answer to the superintendents of the four districts in the cooperative and Garcia.

Her staff will include 45 certified and non-certified teachers, who will work with the more than 300 students in grades K-12 in the PASEC schools.

Garcia said Plano converted an area in its administration building into an office for Lee and her administrative staff. This move will reduce PASEC’s office, administrative and leadership costs, he said. Because of this, Garcia said he does not anticipate an increase in special education spending for any of the PASEC members next year.